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94705 


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THE 


AMERICAN 


BEE  lEEPER'S  MAMAL; 


PRACTICAL    TREATISE 


f 


HISTORY     AND     DOMESTIC    ECONOMY    OF     THE     HONEY-BEE 
EMBRACING     A    FULL    ILLUSTRATION     OF     THE    WHOLE 
SUBJECT,    WITH    THE     MOST    APPROVED    METHODS 
OF  MANAGING  THIS   INSECT  THROUGH  EVERY 
BRANCH  OF    ITS    CULTURE,  THE  RESULT 
OF      MANY      years'      EXPE- 
RIENCE. 

By  T.   B.    miner. 
EHIBEILISIIED   BY   THIRTY-FRE  FINE  WOOD  ENGRAVINGS. 


Queen, 


Worker. 


Drone. 


SECOND    EDITION. 

NEW  YORK: 
PUBLISHED    BY    C.    M.    SAXTON, 

l-Jl    FULTON    STnKET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S49,  by 

T .    B  .    MINER, 

In  the  Clerk's  Oflicc  of  the  District  Couit  of  the  United  States  for  the  SoiilUein 

District  of  New  York. 


C.  W.  BENEDICT,  Stereotyper, 

201    William  street,  cor.  of  h'ranhfort. 


PREFACE. 


The  following  treatise  has  been  written  to  fill  a 
vacuum  in  this  country,  that  has  long  existed.  How  it 
has  happened  that  the  management  of  the  honey-bee 
should  have  been  so  neglected  by  writers  in  the  United 
States,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  comprehend ;  but  so  it  is,  and 
we  cannot  boast,  up  to  the  present  time,  a  single  volume 
on  this  subject,  worthy  of  being  called  a  full,  practical 
treatise  on  the  culture  of  this  insect. 

Such  small  essays  as  have  appeared  from  the  pens  of 
American  authors,  have  given  little,  or  no  information 
of  practical  utility ;  the  most  of  them,  not  even  present- 
ing a  single  engraving,  as  an  illustration.  In  this  work, 
the  expense  of  the  embellishments  alone,  will  equal  the 
entire  cost  of  publishing  any  of  the  works  of  American 
origin,  that  have  preceded  it;  and  it  has  been  my  pride 
and  aim,  to  render  it  a  production,  that  will  not  only  com- 
pare  with,  but  even  exceed  the  most  popular  European 
treatises  on  the  same  subject,  especially  in  all  matters  of 
a  practical  nature. 

The  great  difficulty  in  the  way  of  producing  a  truly 
popular  work  on  the  honey-bee,  has  hitherto  been,  the 
imaginary  dryness  of  the  subject,  operating  as  a  great 
discouragement  to  practical  apiarians  to  write  thereon ; 

94705 


IV  PREFACE. 

but  in  this  work  I  have,  I  think,  divested  the  subject  of 
its  dryness,  to  some  extent,  and  I  have  placed  it  before 
the  reader  in  a  more  attractive  form,  I  trust,  than  it  has 
hitherto  appeared  in  many  works  of  this  kind.  I  have 
endeavored  to  discuss  the  various  questions  in  a  clear, 
ample,  and  comprehensive  manner,  divested  of  the 
superstition  of  the  ignorant,  and  the  errors  of  those  who 
profess  to  be  learned  in  the  science. 

I  have  not  placed  that  implicit  confidence  in  all  of 
Huber's  writings,  as  may  be  seen,  that  some  apiarians 
do ;  yet  I  have  quoted  him,  to  some  extent,  on  subjects 
where  he  is  undoubtedly  correct. 

What  I  have  written  in  the  following  pages,  is  most- 
ly the  result  of  my  own  practical  experience,  during 
many  years  of  close  application  to  the  management,  and 
the  study  of  the  honey-bee.  On  some  points  I  have 
taken  an  entirely  new  course,  in  my  own  management 
of  bees.  For  instance,  I  treat  them  differently  in  the 
winter  season  especially,  from  the  ordinary  custom, 
keeping  them  much  cooler,  &c. ;  and  my  general  course 
of  management  is  peculiar  to  myself,  with  a  full  know- 
ledge of  all  systems,  yet  based  upon  the  true  principles 
of  the  nature  and  economy  of  the  bee.  My  success  in 
the  culture  of  this  insect,  has  been  beyond  precedent, 
and  having  the  test  of  a  long  series  of  years  to  support 
me,  I  offer  this  work  as  one  worthy  of  the  confidence 
of  the  public. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


CHAPTER   I. 


THE  QUEEN. 

Every  association  of  bees  is  composed  of  three  classes, 
viz :  a  queen,  drones  and  workers,  and  when  separated 
from  their  natural  connections,  they  loose  all  their  attri- 
butes of  industry  and  soon  perish  in  inaction. 

The  queen  is  the  mother  of  the  entire  increase  of 
every  family  of  bees,  unless  in  rare  cases  of  the  exist- 
ance  of  a  few  fertile  workers,  that  produce  drone  eggs 
only,  of  which  I  shall  speak  hereafter.  The  queen  is. 
longer  than  either  drones  or  workers,  and  much  larger  in 
every  respect  than  a  worker,  but  not  so  large  as  a  drone. 
Her  trunk  or  body  is  shorter  than  that  of  the  other  two 
classes,  and  her  abdomen  tapers  to  a  point,  in  the  form 
of  a  sugar-loaf  Her  legs  are  longer  than  those  of  drones 
and  workers,  but  have  no  cavities  or  baskets  for  holding 
gathered  stores.  The  most  remarkable  feature  pertain- 
ing to  her  majesty,  is  the  shortness  of  her  wings,  reach- 
ing only  to  about  two-thirds  of  the  length  of  her  abdo- 
men. Her  color  is  much  darker  than  workers,  and 
sometimes  approaching  to  a  jet  black ;  that  is,  upon  her 

D.  H.  HILL  LIBRARY 

North  Carolina  State  College 


6  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

upper  surface,  but  her  belly  is  of  a  dark  orange  color. 
It  is  this  latter  hue  that  enables  one  to  easily  distinguish 
her  in  a  cluster,  even  without  seeing  any  other  part  of 
her  body. 

WHEN  SEEN,  AND  HOW  FOUND. 

It  is  only  in  particular  instances  that  the  queen  is  to 
be  seen,  such  as  during  swarming,  or  on  her  aerial  excur- 
sions, which  takes  place  on  the  second  or  third  day  after 
being  hived,  or  upon  some  occasion  of  her  being  found  in 
a  cluster  of  bees  upon  the  alighting  board.  In  this  latter 
case,  which  occurs  with  recent  swarms  only,  as  a  gene- 
ral rule,  and  very  seldom,  a  close  cluster  of  bees  is  seen 
about  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg,  remaining  quiet,  and  when 
the  feather  end  of  a  quill,  or  a  stick  is  used  to  separate 
them,  and  they  instantly  re-form  into  a  cluster  again,  it 
is  almost  certain  that  the  queen  is  in  the  centre.  The 
kind  of  cluster  that  I  allude  to,  is  very  different  from 
ordinary  clustering  upon  the  side  of  the  hive,  or  on  the 
bottom  board,  when  the  bees  are  driven  out  by  heat ; 
then  the  bees  cluster  with  their  heads  upward ;  but  in 
clusters  where  the  queen  is  to  be  found,  nothing  of  such 
a  regularity  is  to  be  seen. 

STING  OF  THE  QUEEN. 

The  queen  is  armed  with  a  sting  which  is  curved,  but 
she  seldom  uses  it,  except  against  rival  queens.  Indeed, 
she  may  be  taken  with  the  bare  fingers,  at  any  time, 
with  perfect  impunity ;  but  a  worker  taken  in  that  man- 
ner, would  be  dropped  as  a  piece  of  hot  iron. 


BEE-KEEPER  S   MANUAL.  7 

HEK  FECUNDATION. 

The  fecundation  of  the  queen  has  ever  been  a  subject 
of  deep  interest  to  naturalists,  and  it  is  not  at  the  pre- 
sent day  so  fully  decided,  in  what  manner,  or  by  what 
agency  it  is  effected,  as  to  put  the  question  entirely  to 
rest ;  and  I  may  safely  add,  that  the  day  will  never  come, 
when  this  long  disputed  point  will  be  so  fully  cleared  up 
as  to  silence  all  opposition  to  the  now  generally  received 
opinion  of  the  case. 

Some  naturaUsts  and  apiarians  have  supposed  that  the 
queen  is  5e?f-impregnated ;  that  is,  that  the  fecundating 
germ  of  the  ovary  is  inherent  in  her,  and  when  her  eggs 
are  laid,  that  the  drones  fertilize  them,  and  generate  the 
principle  of  animal  life  by  incubation,  or  sitting  upon 
them.  Others  have  supposed  that  a  vivifying  seminal 
aura  exhaled  from  the  drone,  penetrates  the  body  of  the 
queen,  and  that  produces  impregnation.  This  opinion 
arose  from  the  fact,  that  a  strong  odor  is  sometimes  ex- 
haled from  them. 

Naturalists  rightly  supposed,  that  a  sexual  union  did 
take  place  between  the  queen  and  drones  in  some  man- 
ner, but  how,  or  when,  was  beyond  the  scope  of  their 
knowledge,  since  such  an  union  had  never  been  beheld 
by  mortal  eyes.  However,  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  light  seemed  to  da\^Ti  upon  this  long 
hidden  mystery,  which  had  lain  shrouded  in  darkness 
for  thousands  of  years.  The  fact  that  the  sexual  union  of 
many  species  of  winged  insects  takes  place  in  the  air, 
while  on  the  wing,  did  at  last,  after  centuries  upon  cen' 


8  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

turies  had  past  in  wild  speculation,  cause  the  films  to  fall 
from  the  eyes  of  the  naturalists  of  the  day,  and  they 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  impregnation  of  the 
queen  bee  must  be  effected  in  the  like  manner. 

That  many  hundred  years  should  have  past  away, 
before  this  simple  fact  should  have  become  developed,  is 
truly  a  matter  of  surprise !  Yet  it  is  a  matter  of  still 
greater  surprise,  that  many  apiarians  of  the  present  day 
pertinaciously  adhere  to  ancient  notions  in  regard  to 
the  agency  of  the  drones  in  the  impregnation  of  the 
queen,  and  utterly  refuse  to  divest  themselves  of  tradi- 
tions founded  in  error  and  superstition. 

That  such  is  the  natural  use  and  purpose  for  which 
drones  were  created,  viz :  to  effect  impregnation  on  the 
wing,  I  presume  the  reader  will  readily  believe,  on 
hearing  what  I  have  to  say  on  the  subject  hereafter,  in 
Chap.  iii.  devoted  to  "drones" 

HUBER,  THE  GREAT  (?)   APIARIAN. 

Huher,  a  German  naturalist  of  distinction,  who  flour- 
ished at  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  has  placed 
this  question  beyond  a  doubt ;  provided  that  we  may 
place  confidence  in  his  statements,  which  I  consider 
somewhat  questionable. 

Since  Huber  is  cited  as  orthodox  authority  by  almost 
every  writer  on  the  honey  bee,  or  at  least  by  a  very 
large  portion  of  them,  and  inasmuch  as  many  emi- 
nent naturalists  and  apiarians  consider  the  greater  por- 
tion of  his  writings  as  an  ingenious  fabrication  of  expe- 


bee-keeper's  manual.  9 

riments,  that  never  occurred  save  in  the  imagination  of 
this  naturalist,  or  of  his  assistant,  I  deem  it  necessary  to 
place  the  position  of  this  author  fairly  before  my  readers, 
that  they  may  be  able  to  judge  for  themselves,  in  some 
measure,  whether  he  is,  or  is  not,  entitled  to  full  cre- 
dence. I  do  this,  partly  for  the  reason  that  some  authors 
on  this  subject,  within  the  reach  of  an  American  public, 
servilely  tread  in  the  footsteps  of  Huber,  without  ever 
having  read  his  writings  from  his  own  pen,  which  is 
perfectly  apparent,  from  the  limited  knowledge  of  his 
work,  possessed  by  the  writers,  as  their  essays  plainly 
manifest. 

At  the  time  that  Huber  wrote,  about  the  year  1790, 
the  natural  history  of  the  honey  bee,  as  well  as  its  do- 
mestic economy  and  management,  was  in  a  state  of  ob- 
scurity. Very  few  men  of  talent  had  given  the  subject 
a  profound  attention,  and  the  traditions  and  absurd  fan- 
cies of  olden  times,  in  regard  to  this  insect,  were  believed 
and  acted  upon,  by  the  majority  of  bee-keepers.  At 
this  epoch,  Huber  professed  to  have  made  a  series  of 
experiments,  during  a  period  of  some  five  or  six  years, 
illustrating  the  physiology  and  economy  of  the  honey 
bee  to  an  extent  that  had  never  been  reached  before. 
But  his  writings  throw  no  light  whatever  upon  the  do- 
mestic management  of  bees ;  therefore,  they  are  of  no 
value  to  the  apiarian  who  studies  the  economy  of  bees, 
merely  for  the  profit  derived  from  them.  The  natural- 
ist alone  considered  his  discoveries  as  highly  important 
and  valuable,  and  being  a  novelty,  the  world  at  once 
took  the  truth  of  his  theories  and  experiments  for  grant- 


10  miner's    AMERICAN 

ed,  and  Huber  was  forthwith  placed  upon  the  pinnacle  of 
apiarian  science. 

Many  apiarians  who  subsequently  wrote  upon  the  bee, 
servilely  follo'wed  him  through  both  truth  and  fallacy, 
without  being  able,  from  their  own  experience,  to  either 
refute  or  corroborate  his  theories  and  hypotheses.  En- 
cyclopoedias  and  other  publications  cited  him  as  unex- 
ceptionable authority,  and  he  was  styled  the  "  Prince  of 
Apiarians;"  hence  we  find  American  authors  taking 
their  cue  from  some  foreign  proselyte  to  his  theories, 
and  blindly  re-echoing  many  of  his  discoveries  as  facts, 
which  may  be  as  far  from  the  truth,  as  the  east  is  from 
the  west ! 

The  reader  may  here  inquire,  if  the  natural  history 
and  domestic  economy  of  the  honey  bee,  is  so  involved 
in  mystery  and  obscurity,  as  not  to  be  fully  understood 
at  this  late  day,  and  susceptible  of  being  clearly  ex- 
pounded and  laid  down,  without  the  possibility  of  error? 
Yes  sir,  it  is  thus  involved;  and  the  day  will  never 
come,  when  the  veil  of  obscurity  that  now  shrouds  much 
pertaining  to  this  interesting  little  insect  will  be  wholly 
removed. 

Man  may  experiment — he  may  send  forth  theory  and 
hypothesis  to  the  end  of  time ;  yet  the  natural  instinct 
and  wisdom  of  the  bee,  in  many  of  her  acts,  and  the 
modus  operandi  of  her  internal  domestic  labors,  to  a 
great  extent,  will  forever  be  terra  incognita  to  all  hu- 
man knowledge ! 

Let  not  the  reader  suppose  from  the  above  rematks, 
that  we  are  doomed  to  remain  ignorant  of  important 


bee-keeper's  manual.  11 

facts,  to  enable  us  to  meet  with  perfect  success  in  our 
management  of  bees — the  curtain  has  been  raised,  and 
man  has  beheld — enough  for  man  to  know. 

As  the  wisdom  of  God  is  past  finding  out,  so  is  the 
instinctive  wisdom  of  the  little  bee,  a  direct  attribute  of 
the  Architect  and  Creator  of  all  animate  and  inanimate 
nature,  beyond  the  pale  of  human  knowledge. 

huber's  authority  doubted. 

As  it  will  be  necessary  for  me  in  the  following  work, 
to  frequently  allude  to  Huber  and  his  writings,  since  the 
history  of  the  bee  is  based,  to  a  great  extent,  upon  the 
foundation  laid  by  him,  the  reader  will  excuse  a  continu- 
ation of  remarks  touching  the  confidence  due  to  his 
statements.  His  writings  comprise  simply  a  series  of 
letters  to  his  friend  and  patron.  Bonnet,  of  Geneva. 
Bonnet's  reputation  as  a  naturalist  stands  high,  and 
those  letters  were  written  at  his  suggestion  of  various 
things  pertaining  to  bees,  then  in  obscurity,  and  which, 
for  the  benefit  of  science,  it  was  necessary  to  unfold. 
Huber  being  in  affluent  circumstances,  and  unable  to 
attend  to  any  ordinary  pursuits,  in  consequence  of  his 
blindness,  he  being  unable  to  discover  the  diflference  be- 
tween a  white  person  and  a  colored  one,  he,  with  the 
aid  of  a  servant,  instituted  his  experiments  in  the  econ- 
omy of  bees,  to  avoid  that  tedium  vitce  that  ever  accom- 
panies the  unemployed. 

Now,  had  Huber  had  personal  ocular  demonstration 
of  what  he  has  written,  as  being  verified  by  him, 
through  his  assistant,  we  might  consider  him  entitled  to 


12  miner's    AMERICAN 

credence ;  but  he  trusted  entirely  to  his  servant,  in  all 
those  alleged  discoveries  that  have  astonished  and 
amazed  the  world. 

I  can  give  but  a  faint  credence  to  discoveries  thus 
verified,  so  far  as  the  authority  is  concerned ;  but  where 
Ruber's  statements  tally  with  well  known  principles,  we 
should  give  him  the  benefit  of  our  confidence  in  l^is  as- 
sertions. 

The  reader  may  be  interested  to  know  what  wonder- 
ful discoveries  this  man  has  made  ?  They  consist  in 
discoveries  relative  to  the  impregnation  of  the  queen, — 
retarded  impregnation  and  its  effects — verification  of 
the  existence  of  fertile  workers — the  power  of  the  bees 
in  raising  a  queen  from  any  ordinary  worker's  egg  at 
pleasure — combats  of  rival  queens — massacre  of  drones, 
&c.,  «Sz:c.,  interwoven,  as  many  apiarians  presume,  with 
considerable  fiction,  since  many  things  which  he  alleges 
to  have  seen,  or  rather  that  his  servant  saw,  have  never 
been  beheld  by  any  one  else. 

huish's  opinion  of  huber. 

Huish,  a  writer  of  some  celebrity  on  bees,  whose 
work  was  published  in  London,  in  1844,  says,  "  Huber, 
from  a  natural  infirmity  of  the  eyes,  was  wholly  disabled 
from  prosecuting  his  researches  into  the  natural  economy 
of  the  bee,  and  consequently  that  he  relied  solely  on  the 
skill  and  information  of  his  servant,  Franpois.  Beurnen's, 
for  the  veracity  of  those  singular  discoveries,  which, 


bee-keeper's  manual.  13 

under  the  sanction  of  his  name,  have  been  sent  forth 
into  the  world,  but  which  will  never  stand  the  test  of  a 
rigid  and  scientific  examination. 

Now,  this  same  Francois  Beurnens  was  a  rude,  un- 
educated Swiss  peasant,  with  a  mind  immersed  in  all 
the  prejudices  of  his  country,  and  who  pertinaciously 
adhered  to  many  of  the  Swiss  customs  in  the  manage- 
ment of  bees,  which  have  for  their  basis  the  grossest 
ignorance  and  superstition.  Thus,  for  instance,  when 
any  of  the  family  died  in  which  Beurnens  was  a  domes- 
tic, he  turned  all  the  hives  in  the  garden  topsy  turvy,  in 
which  condition  they  were  obliged  to  remain  until  after 
the  funeral,  as  it  was  most  proper  and  becoming  that  the 
bees  should  be  made  to  sympathize  with  the  loss  which 
the  family  had  sustained." 

Notwithstanding  that  the  lash  of  ridicule  has  been 
well  applied  to  Huber,  by  those  apiarians  whose  expe- 
rience has  proved  a  portion,  at  least,  of  his  writings  as 
fallacious,  yet  some  of  his  discoveries  are  undoubtedly 
true,  inasmuch  as  they  accord  with  the  observations  of 
apiarians  in  general ;  and  of  this  kind  is  the  discovery 
of  the  manner  in  which  the  impregnation  of  the  queen 
takes  place  in  the  air,  by  the  drones,  the  subject  on 
which  I  was  speaking,  that  gave  rise  to  the  introduction 
of  this  author ;  and  I  think  I  cannot  more  profitably 
occupy  the  attention  of  the  curious  reader  for  a  few 
moments,  than  to  give  his  account  of  this  discovery  in 
his  own  words.     Here  it  is : — 


14  miner's    AMERICAN 

huber's  discovery  of  the  impregnation  of  a  queen. 

"Aware  that  "the  males  usually  leave  the  hive  in  the 
warmest  part  of  the  day,  in  summer,  it  was  natural  to 
suppose  that  if  the  queens  were  obliged  to  go  out  for 
fecundation,  instinct  would  induce  them  to  do  so  at  the 
same  time  as  the  others. 

"At  eleven  in  the  forenoon,  we  placed  ourselves 
{Beurnens  was  the  one  to  watch  for  the  queen,  dh'ected 
by  Huher,  the  reader  will  understand ;  yet  Huher  al- 
ways wrote  as  if  he  could  see,)  opposite  to  a  hive  con- 
taining an  unimpregnated  queen,  five  days  old.  The 
sun  had  shone  from  his  rising,  the  air  was  very  warm, 
and  the  males  began  to  leave  the  hives.  We  then  en- 
larged the  entrance  {Huher  had  contracted  the  entrances 
of  several  hives  to  j)7'event  the  egress  of  the  queens,)  of 
that  selected  for  observation,  and  paid  great  attention  to 
the  bees  entering  and  departing.  The  males  appeared 
and  immediately  took  flight.  Soon  afterwards  the 
young  queen  came  to  the  entrance ;  at  first  she  did  not, 
but  during  a  little  time  traversed  the  board,  brushing 
her  belly  with  her  hind  legs,  neither  workers  nor  males 
bestowing  any  notice  on  her.  At  last  she  took  flight. 
When  several  feet  from  the  hive  she  reiurned  and  ap- 
proached it,  as  if  to  examine  the  place  of  her  departure, 
perhaps  judging  this  precaution  necessary  to  recognize 
it;  she  then  flew  away,  describing  horizontal  circles 
twelve  or  fifteen  feet  above  the  earth.  We  contracted 
the  entrance  of  the  hive  that  she  might  not  return  un- 
observed, and  placing  ourselves  in  the  centre  of  the  cir- 


BEE-KEEPERS   MANUAL.  15 

cles  described  in  her  flight,  the  more  easily  to  follow 
her,  and  witness  all  her  motions.  But  she  did  not  re- 
main long  in  a  situation  favorable  for  our  observations, 
and  rapidly  rose  out  of  sight.  We  resumed  our  place 
before  the  hive ;  and  in  seven  minutes  the  young  queen 
returned  to  the  entrance  of  a  habitation  which  she  had 
left  for  the  first  time.  Having  found  no  external  evi- 
dence of  fecundation,  we  allowed  her  to  enter.  In  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  she  reappeared,  and  after  brushing 
herself  as  before,  took  flight,  then  returning  to  examine 
the  hive,  she  rose  so  high  that  we  soon  lost  sight  of  her. 
This  second  absence  was  much  longer  than  the  first,  it 
occupied  twenty-seven  minutes.  We  now  found  her  in 
a  state  very  different  from  that  in  which  she  was  after 
the  former  excursion ;  the  organs  distended  by  a  sub- 
stance, thick  and  hard,  very  much  resembling  the  mat- 
ter in  the  vessels  of  males,  completely  similar  to  it  in 
color  and  consistence." 

Huber  afterwards  says,  that  from  subsequent  discove- 
ries, he  found  that  what  he  took  for  the  generative  mat- 
ter, was  the  male  organs  left  in  the  body  of  the  female. 

queen's  flight  to  meet  the  males. 

That  queens  do  thus  sally  forth  on  the  second  or  third 
day  after  entering  a  new  habitation  with  a  swarm,  is  a 
fact  that  has  come  under  the  observation  of  many  apia- 
rians, yet  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  change  in  the  ap- 
pearance of  them  on  their  return,  as  spoken  of  by  Hu- 
ber is  generally,  if  ever  visible.  If  the  young  queens 
are  to  be  seen  at  all,  it  is  at  this  period,  and  it  is  not 


16  miner's    AMERICAN 

unfrequent,  that  queens  of  all  swarms,  after  the  first, 
during  the  first  few  days  of  their  inhabiting  their  new 
tenement,  are  found  in  a  cluster  of  bees  at  the  entrance 
of  the  hive  or  near  it.  The  reason  of  this  is,  that  on 
the  return  of  the  queens  from  their  excursions  in  search 
of  drones,  they  are  immediately  surrounded  by  their 
subjects  and  held  prisoners  for  a  brief  period.  The 
reason  why  the  queens  of  first  swarms  are  not  thus 
found  is,  that  such  swarms  are  accompanied  by  old 
queens,  whose  impregnation  is  already  effected. 

ANALOGY  PROVES  IMPREGNATION  ON  THE  WING. 

It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  the  sexual  union  of  the 
humble  bee  takes  place  on  the  wing.  I  have  frequently 
witnessed  it ;  and  it  is  the  same  with  the  most  of  insects 
of  the  winged  tribe  ;  hence  analogy  is  strongly  in  favor 
of  the  theory  of  the  impregnation  of  the  queen  honey 
bee  as  aforesaid. 

HUBER  CONFINES  QUEENS  TO  PROVE  THE  THEORY  OP 
IMPREGNATION  ON  THE  WING. 

Huber  states  that  he  confined  the  queen  with  a  large 
number  of  males,  and  also  confined  her  with  the  males 
excluded  from  the  hives ;  at  the  same  time  admitting  the 
ingress  and  egress  of  the  workers  as  usual,  and  in  every 
case,  which  were  numerous,  the  queens  remained  sterile. 
He  confined  them  over  a  month,  which  was  enough  to 
test  the  question  whether  a  queen  can  be  feriile  and  not 
leave  the  hive. 


bee-xeeper's  manual.  17 


RETARDED  IMPREGNATION. 


Huber  also  states,  that  when  a  queen  is  retarded 
twenty-one  days  from  her  birth  in  her  impregnation,  she 
then,  and  ever  thereafter,  lays  drone  eggs  only. 

As  no  one  has  ever  experimented  on  queens  in  the 
manner  of  the  above  two  cases, — at  least,  no  one  having 
yet  given  publicity  to  any  observation,  refuting  or  cor- 
roborating Ruber's  discovery,  it  is  not  easy  to  say, 
whether  the  last  case  be  true  or  false. 

In  regard  to  the  sterility  of  queens  that  have  not  been 
allowed  to  leave  their  hives,  there  is  no  doubt.  Their 
impregnation  being  effected  on  the  wing,  it  follows,  of 
course,  that  confinement  with,  or  without  males,  must 
render  them  barren. 

That  retarded  impregnation  does  cause  queens  to  lay 
drone  eggs,  is  quite  possible,  yet  the  fact  might  not  come 
under  the  observation  of  an  ordinary  bee-keeper  in  a 
century,  in  most  cases,  since  nature  has  so  amply  pro- 
vided for  the  effectual  impregnation  of  queens,  that  to 
be  retarded  by  any  natural  event,  is  out  of  the  question, 
except  in  cases  of  the  death  of  a  queen,  at  a  period 
when  the  drones  are  exterminated,  or  so  few  of  them 
existing  as  to  jeopardize  the  impregnation  of  the  suc- 
cessor to  royalty. 

I,  myself,  have  had  a  case  in  which  drones  only  were 
produced,  but  whether  it  was  owing  to  a  retarded  im- 
pregnation of  the  queen,  or  whelker  it  was  the  produc- 
tion of  fertile  workers,  I  am  unable  to  say  positively, 


18  miner's    AMERICAN    BEE-KEEPER's    MANUAL. 

owing,  unfortunately,  to  the  destruction  of  the  stock,  by 
my  own  act,  before  the  question  could  be  decided. 

I  shall  give  the  full  details  of  this  singular  case  in  my 
remarks  on  "  loorkers,"  as  it  more  properly  belongs  to 
that  class  of  bees. 


CHAPTER    II. 


THE  WORKERS. 

The  workers  are  the  smallest  bees  of  the  family.  A 
worker's  head  is  of  a  triangular  shape,  as  well  as  that  of 
the  other  classes, — the  abdomen  is  connected  with  the 
trunk  or  thorax,  by  a  small  ligament,  of  a  thread-like 
nature,  and  it  is  composed  of  six  scaly  rings,  at  the  apex 
of  which,  is  the  sting,  which  is  full  of  barbed  points  like 
an  arrow,  which  can  only  be  seen  by  the  aid  of  a  strong 
magnifier,  and  which  prevents  the  extraction  of  the 
sting  when  darted  into  one's  flesh,  causing  a  portion  of 
the  entrails  of  the  bee  to  be  drawn  out  with  it,  and  thus 
causing  death  to  the  insect. 

Every  bee  has  four  wings  ;  and  on  queens  the  num- 
ber of  wings  is  more  preceptible  than  on  workers  or 
drones.  They  have  six  feet. — The  eyes  are  situated  upon 
the  upper  surface  of  the  head. — Every  bee  has  a  pair  of 
antenncB,  of  a  fine  wiry  flexible  nature,  protruding  dia- 
gonally from  the  head,  which  are  used  as  organs  of  feel- 
ing, or  perhaps  of  smell,  since  a  stranger-bee  is  known 
at  once,  on  applying  the  antennae  to  it. 


20  miner's    AMERICAN 

The  antennae  of  the  queen  generally  are  turned  or 
curved  downward. — This  is  their  natural  position,  and 
the  inexperienced  bee-keeper  may  know  her  majesty 
from  this  circumstance,  when  he  is  in  doubt  as  to  her 
identity. 

Workers  have  spoon-like  cavities  or  baskets  upon 
their  posterior  legs,  that  hold  the  pollen  or  farina  gath- 
ered by  them.  No  other  bee  has  these  cavities.  Work- 
ers also  have  a  honey  bag,  or  stomach,  expressly  to  hold 
the  gatherings  of  the  day.  It  will  hold  about  half  a  drop 
of  honey.  The  bodies  of  bees  are  covered  with  a  hairy 
down,  which,  through  a  microscope,  appears  like  a  de- 
fence o^  palisades. 

Wonderful  are  the  labors  of  this  class,  and  truly  may 
they  be  called  "  workers,"  for  never  did  industry  show  a 
brighter  example  of  indefatigable  perseverance,  than  in 
the  labors  of  this  little  insect. 

The  following  little  stanza  often  recurs  to  one's  mind 
as  he  surveys  these  ever  industrious  workers,  hurrying 
to  and  fro,  on  a  bright  sunny  day. 

"  How  doth  the  little  busy  bee, 
Improve  each  shining  hour ; 
Gathering  honey  all  the  day, 
From  every  opening  flower." 

The  workers  are  the  architects  of  the  association. 
They  construct  the  cells,  arrange  their  size  and  distan- 
ces, repair  damages,  &c.,  &c.  They  are  the  laborers 
of  the  family ;  they  gather  the  honey  and  farina,  and 
compound  the  food  for  the  young  bees,  and  upon  their 
skill  and  labors  depend  the  prosperity  of  the  colony. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  .   21 

Who  that  has  witnessed  this  class  of  bees,  during  the 
height  of  their  harvest,  has  not  been  forcibly  impressed 
with  their  indefatigable  industry !  They  sally  forth  be- 
fore the  rising  of  the  sun,  and  return  when  evening  twi- 
light has  cast  her  sombre  mantle  over  the  face  of  nature, 
laden  with  sweets,  which  but  for  this  industrious  insect, 
would  be  lost  on  the  desert  air.  Neither  the  scorching 
rays  of  a  vertical  sun,  nor  the  peltings  of  the  storm,  can 
restrain  their  zeal  in  securing  to  themselves  life  and 
prosperity,  by  availing  themselves  of  every  moment  that 
can  possibly  be  employed,  when  the  fields  are  decked 
with  the  flowers  that  most  invite  them. 

They  do,  indeed,  afford  a  theme  worthy  the  attention 
of  the  philosopher  and  moralist.  Man  is  here  taught  a 
lesson  that  should  never  be  forgotten  ;  but  ever  be  in- 
delibly impressed  on  his  mind.  The  improvident  and 
lazy  may  here  learn,  from  the  book  of  nature,  truths  that 
would  lead  them  to  fortune  and  prosperity,  were  not 
their  consciences  seared  and  callous  to  all  lessons  of 
wisdom. 

The  little  bee,  aware  that  the  days  of  her  harvest  ai'e 
few,  "  makes  hay  while  the  sun  shines,"  and  that  Divine 
injunction,  "Whatsoever  thy  hands  find  to  do,  do  with 
all  thy  might,"  is  here  acted  upon,  and  carried  out  to 
the  letter,  to  the  shame  of  man,  for  whose  especial  bene- 
fit it  was  given. 

To  the  bee,  no  written  law  can  be  given  by  their  Cre- 
ator; consequently,  an  instinct  is  given  them  to  guide 
them  in  their  labors ;  and  when  the  flowers  are  faded 
and  gone,  and  the  bleak  blasts  of  winter  flit  around,  she 


22     ^  MINERS    AMERICAN 

looks  upon  her  loaded  combs,  as  the  reward  of  her  toils, 
and  laughs  at  the  raging  winds  and  pitiless  storms. 

But  how  stands  the  case  with  man — the  being  who 
is  made  but  a  grade  inferior  to  Angels  ?  Does  he  show 
himself  worthy  of  his  vocation — does  he  even  show  him- 
self equal  to  the  little  puny  honey  bee,  in  foresight  of 
those  evils  that  delay,  neglect,  procrastination,  inaction, 
or  downright  laziness  produce  ? 

For  an  answer,  just  cast  your  eye  around. — In  yon- 
der hovel  is  a  human  being  clothed  in  rags,  surrounded 
by  a  large  family  of  children,  who  are  crying  for  bread. 
The  emaciated  mother,  the  unwilling  victim  of  the  fa- 
ther's improvidence,  is  fast  approaching  the  grave.  Her 
leaky  tenement  has,  year  after  year,  caused  the  seeds  of 
disease  to  germinate,  and  now  friends  call  to  console — 
to  alleviate ;  it  is  too  late.  Ah !  how  is  this  ?  has  this 
man  had  his  health — has  he  had  the  use  of  his  limbs,  in 
this  land  of  prosperity,  where  poverty  need  be  known 
only  in  name,  to  be  thus  impoverished,  and  to  have  his 
house  falling  around  his  head  ?  Indeed,  he  has  been 
as  hale  and  hearty  as  the  most  robust  among  us.  He 
is  also  an  excellent  workman,  but  he  has  never  heeded 
the  old  adage,  "  make  hay  while  the  sun  shines ;"  and 
when  winter  comes,  it  finds  him  naked  and  penniless — 
his  children  cold  and  hungry,  and  his  wife  without  the 
ordinary  comforts  of  life.  Would  he  but  follow  the  ex- 
ample of  the  little  bee,  and  from  her  learn  wisdom,  pov- 
erty would  be  banished  from  his  door,  and  the  bleak 
winds  of  winter  would  bring  no  terrors,  and  their  howl 
would  be  music  in  the  ears  of  the  little  fire-side  group, 


bee-keeper's  manual.  23 

as  they  sing  their  merry  songs  of  contentment  and  hap- 
piness. 

THE  EFFECTS  OP  A  SUDDEN  STORM  ON  BEES. 

I  have  often  seen  these  workers  returning  so  late  in 
tlie  evening,  in  warm  sultry  weather,  that  they  were 
barely  able  to  find  their  respective  hives  ;  and  so  eager 
are  they  to  devote  every  moment  to  their  labors,  that 
many  of  them,  suffer  themselves  to  be  overtaken  by  the 
tempest  and  storm,  before  they  take  their  homeward 
flight. 

It  may  be  supposed,  that  under  such  circumstances, 
storms  and  winds  arise  so  suddenly,  that  the  bees  are 
taken  by  them  unawares ;  but  such  is  not  the  case. 

Wishing  to  note  particularly  the  return  of  bees  from 
the  fields,  in  the  height  of  their  harvest,  and  to  what  ex- 
tent they  would  remain  out,  on  the  approach  of  a  heavy 
thunder  storm,  I,  in  the  month  of  June  last,  took  a  sta- 
tion among  my  hives,  on  the  approach  of  a  shower,  and 
minutely  watched  their  course.  It  was  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  day,  or  noon ;  the  sun  had  been  shining  all 
the  morning,  and  the  bees  were  out  in  their  gi'eatest 
numbers. 

On  the  appearance  of  dark  clouds,  in  the  west,  and 
accompanied  with  thunder,  the  bees  commenced  return- 
ing more  than  is  usual  in  fair  weather.  In  about  a 
half  an  hour,  the  heavens  were  darkened  by  clouds,  with 
a  slight  sprinkhng  of  rain,  and  the  roar  of  thunder  shook 
the  earth.     At  this  crisis,  the  bees  came  in  with  a  rush. 


24  miner's    AMERICAN 

and  a  few,  in  the  face  of  the  approaching  storm,  darted 
forth  to  the  fields  again. 

This  state  of  things  lasted  forty  minutes,  with  suffi- 
cient rain  to  have  given  every  bee  full  warning,  even 
were  they  both  blind  and  deaf 

Even  the  most  distant  bees,  I  considered  within  the 
reach  of  the  rain,  and  I  supposed,  that  in  fifteen  minutes 
from  the  commencement  of  the  shower,  every  bee  would 
have  been  in ;  but  such  was  not  the  fact.  They  con- 
tinued to  pour  in  during  the  whole  of  the  forty  minutes ; 
then  the  winds  commenced  blowing  furiously,  and  the 
rain  fell  fast ;  I  took  an  umbrella,  and  standing  in  the 
midst  of  the  apiary,  beheld  the  bees  beating  in  against 
winds  and  rain,  until  the  water  came  in  such  torrents, 
that  a  perfect  sheet  encompassed  me ;  and  at  this  junc- 
ture, several  bees  on  their  return,  finding  it  impossible 
to  gain  their  hives,  came  under  my  umbrella  for  protec- 
tion. Every  bee  that  was  out  at  that  crisis,  must  have 
been  dashed  to  the  ground,  unless  they  sought  refuge  on 
the  nearest  thing  that  came  in  their  way. 

This  observation  proved  that  bees  can  fly  a  conside- 
rable distance  to  their  homes,  while  the  rain  literally 
pours  down.  Before  tiie  last  heavy  dash  to  which  I  re- 
fer above,  1  noticed  the  bees  coming  in  very  slowly  in- 
deed, for  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents ;  yet  they  did 
slowly  make  headway  through  it.  Their  speed,  as  they 
approached  the  apiary,  was  much  slower  than  a  man 
usually  walks ;  and  I  presume,  that  it  would  have  been 
impossible  for  them  to  have  proceeded  much  farther. 

This  observation  also  shows  how  indefatigable  they 


bee-keeper's  manual,  25 

are,  in  the  pursuit  of  their  natural  avocation.  The 
sturdy  iron-bound  frames  of  the  laborers  of  the  adjacent 
field  had  taken  flight,  long  before  the  bees  considered  it 
necessary  to  vacate  the  flowery  hills  and  vales,  as  if 
those  iron  frames  were  made  of  salt,  while  the  little  frail 
bee,  with  her  fragile  silken  wings,  braved  the  tempest, 
and  bid  defiance  to  the  driving  storm! 

THE  SEX  OF  WORKERS. 

Much  diversity  of  opinion  has  been  expressed,  in  re- 
gard to  the  sex  of  workers,  by  naturalists  and  apiarians; 
and  this  is  not  the  only  question  in  dispute  among  them. 
The  natural  history,  physiology,  and  economy  of  the 
honey  bee,  has  perplexed  and  baffled  more  scientific 
men  in  their  attempts  to  unveil  the  secrets  of  their  na- 
ture, than  any  other  subject  whatever.  As  I  before 
stated,  much  that  pertains  to  the  bee,  is  beyond  the  pale 
of  man's  knowledge ;  and  a  thousand  years  hence,  dark- 
ness and  mystery  will  hang  over  this  subject,  and  man 
will  behold  and  wonder ; — but  to  fathom  the  secrets  of 
their  intuitive  wisdom,  he  never  will  be  able. 

The  reader  may  possibly  ask,  "  what  benefit  is  it  to 
know,  whether  the  workers  are  males,  females  or  neu- 
ters,  so  long  as  we  know  sufficient  to  enable  us  to  man- 
age our  bees  with  perfect  success  ?" 

Why,  sir,  so  far  as  pecuniary  advantage  is  concerned, 
it  is  of  no  consequence  to  know  many  things  concerning 
the  bee,  that  will  occupy  much  of  my  attention  in  these 
pages ;  but  there  is  a  curiosity  extant,  that  is  not  satis- 
fied with  any  thing  short  of  all  the  knowledge,  touching 
2 

D.  H.  HIUL  LIBRARY 

North  Carolina  State  College 


26  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

the  nature  and  habits  of  this  insect,  that  is  attainable  by 
man  ;  and  while  many  will  pass  these  pages,  with  a  hur- 
ried glance,  for  those  that  reveal  a  knowledge,  that 
comes  home  to  the  pocket  of  the  reader ;  saying,  "  why 
is  this  long  useless  expenditure  of  words  upon  queens, 
workers,  drones,  fecundation,  sex  of  workers,  <^c.,  <^c.," 
others  will  wish  for  a  more  lengthy  and  elaborate  trea- 
tise, on  the  same  subject. 

The  sex  of  workers  is  neither  male  nor  female.  They 
appear  to  be  strictly  a  phenomenon  in  nature,  and  by 
many,  are  termed  neuters. 

WORKERS  SAID  TO  BE  SOMETIMES  FERTILE. 

The  workers  approximate  very  nearly  in  their  internal 
organization,  to  the  queens,  having  ovaries  like  them, 
but  not  so  fully  developed.  In  their  natural  capacity, 
they  never  produce  eggs ;  yet  it  is  contended,  that  under 
peculiar  circumstances  workers  exist,  partaking  of  the 
nature  of  queens,  to  a  much  greater  extent,  than  in  their 
ordinary  state ;  and  that  such  workers  lay  di-one  eggs 
only.  Tlie  most  positive  proof  of  this  assertion,  ever 
given  to  the  public,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn, 
is  adduced  by  Huber.  He  states,  that  having  a  hive  in 
which  drone  eggs  only  were  produced,  and  believing  its 
legitimate  queen  to  be  lost,  his  servant  caught  every  bee 
in  the  iiive,  examined  them  carefully,  made  them  show 
their  stings,  in  order  to  test  their  gender,  as  small  males 
are  sometimes  found  that  very  nearly  resemble  workers, 
which  males  have  no  sting ;  and  he  then  put  them  into 
a  glass  cyhnder;  and  so  on,  to  the  very  last,  and  not  a 


BEE-KEEPEft's   MANFAL.  27 

.ds  found,  except  workers.  Indeed,  he  experi- 
inented  on  two  hives  in  this  way,  as  he  says ;  and  so 
tedious  was  the  job,  of  catching  and  examining  the  bees, 
that  it  took  thirteen  days  to  perform  the  operation. 

From  this  experiment,  he  says,  that  he  was  certain 
that  workers  do  sometimes  produce  drone  eggs,  as  be- 
fore stated — in  short,  his  servant,  Beurnens,  actually 
took  one  in  the  very  act  of  laying. 

How  far  we  can  credit  Ruber's  statements  in  regard 
to  this  transaction,  I  cannot  say.  His  hives  were  of  the 
kind  termed  leaf  hives,  which  he  was  enabled  to  open, 
like  the  folds  of  a  book ;  and  it  is  possible,  that  the  ope- 
ration of  catching  the  bees,  may  have  been  performed ; 
but  I  doubt  whether  it  will  ever  be  done  again. 

FERTILE  WORKERS,  AND  THE  POWER  OF  WORKERS  TO  PRO- 
DUCE aUEENS  FROM  ORDINARY  WORKER  EGGS  ! 

The  manner  and  cause  of  the  production  of  workers 
that  lay  drone  eggs,  is  as  follows  : — provided  that  such 
do  ever  exist,  though  I  came  within  an  ace  of  verifying 
the  fact  myself,  as  I  shall  relate. 

It  is  necessary  here  to  inform  the  reader  of  the  power 
of  workers  in  forming,  or  producing  a  queen,  in  order 
that  he  may  rightly  understand  the  question. 

KINDS  OF  EGGS  LAID  BY  THE  QUEEN. 

The  queen  lays  but  two  kinds  of  eggs,  viz :  drone 
and  worker  eggs ;  and  when  queens  are  wanted,  ordi- 
nary worker  eggs  are  laid  by  the  queen,  in  cells  made 
expressly  for  royal  use.  termed  queen  cells.     Here  is  a 


28  MINER^S    AMERICAN 

cut  of  a  royal  cell,  precisely  as  taken  from  one  of  my 
hives : 


ROYAL  CELLS HOW  CONSTRUCTED. 

The  queen  cell  is  of  the  exact  natural  size  and  shape 
as  it  here  appears ;  but  the  worker  cells  are  on  rather 
too  small  a  scale  to  give  the  tout  ensemble  in  its  regular 
proportions,  but  that  is  of  little  account?  since  the  only 
object  of  the  cut  is,  to  illustrate  the  position  and  natural 
shape  of  royal  cells  alone. 

It  will  be  perceived,  that  this  cell  hangs  vertically ; 
that  is,  with  the  mouth  downward.  These  cells  are 
generally  built  upon  the  edges  of  the  combs ;  and  for 
this  purpose,  the  bees  leave  one  side  of  their  combs, 
without  much  support  along  the  edges,  except  an  occa- 
sional bar,  or  brace,  while  the  opposite  edges  are  firmly 
cemented  to  the  hive,  through  their  whole  length.  The 
distance  between  the  combs  that  are  intended  for  royal 
cells,  and  the  side  of  the  hive,  is  from  a  quarter  to  a 
halt  an  inch ;  giving  just  room  enough  for  these  cells, 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  29 

which  are  about  the  size  of  a  peanut,  and  look,  in  shape 
and  outward  appearance,  very  much  Hke  this  nut,  with 
one  end  cut  off,  and  the  nut  extracted.  The  bases  of 
these  cells,  howevez',  are  broader  than  a  peanut ;  and  the 
shape  is  somewhat  like  a  sugar  loaf,  placed  upon  its  small 
end.  Royal  cells  are  also  constructed  in  the  centres  of 
combs,  on  the  edges  of  passages  through  them.  They 
who  have  been  in  the  habit  of  cutting  out  combs,  have 
undoubtedly  perceived  small  orifices,  about  the  size  of  a 
half  dollar,  through  which  the  bees  pass  from  one  comb 
to  another,  and  on  the  edges  of  these  apertures,  royal 
cells  are  as  frequently  built,  as  on  the  edges  of  the  combs. 
Why  such  a  large,  cumbrous  cell  is  necessary  for  the 
raising  of  queens,  that  are  of  less  size  than  a  drone,  is 
very  singular!  There  is  more  material  put  into  one  of 
these  royal  tenements,  than  would  be  required  to  build  a 
dozen  drone  cells ;  and  then,  they  must  hang  downward  ! 
Here  is  one  of  the  mysteries  pertaining  to  bees,  that 
man  can  never  unfold,  A  drone  cell,  lengthened  a  little, 
would  be  just  the  thing  for  these  young  queens ;  yet 
these  stubborn  bees  will  not  be  taught  improvement ; 
they  seem  so  attached  to  the  customs  of  their  fore- 
fathers. 

HOW  YOUNG  aUEENS  ARE  PRODUCED THE  NUMBER  OP 

ROYAL  CELLS  IN  A  HIVE,  ETC, 

When  the  young  queens  are  wanted,  several  of  these 
cells  are  constructed  ;  say  from  five  to  twenty-five ;  and 
the  queen  deposits  worker  eggs  therein  at  intervals,  so 
as  to  mature,  at  about  the  period  that  they  will  be  wanted 


80  miner's    AMERICAN 

to  go  off  with  swarms.  I  have  noticed  some  difference 
of  opinion  in  regard  to  the  largest  number  of  royal  cells, 
ever  found  in  a  single  hive.  Huber  is  denounced  by 
Huish,  for  asserting  that  he  discovered  twenty-seven  in 
a  single  hive ;  and  he  (Huish)  contends,  that  no  hive 
ever  contained  at  once,  more  than  seven ;  but  I  have 
myself,  the  present  season,  taken  twenty-two  from  one 
hive,  and  seventeen  from  another,  but  they  were  not  all 
perfect  cells.  There  are  always  more  or  less  royal  cells 
that  are  not  completed,  in  every  case ;  for,  as  soon  as  a 
certain  number  are  so  far  advanced,  that  the  young 
sovereigns  are  sure  of  being  perfectly  developed,  the  re- 
maining cells  are  discontinued. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  that  these  royal  cells 
are  not  completed,  and  then  made  the  receptacles  of  the 
eggs ;  but  when  about  half  constructed,  they  receive  the 
egg;  and  as  the  larvae*  progress,  the  cells  are  completed. 
These  half-constructed  cells,  resemble  an  acorn,  devoid 
of  the  nut. 

DIFFERENT  FOOD  PROVIDED  FOR  THE  YOUNG  aUEENS. 

When  the  royal  cells  have  received  the  eggs,  and 
they  become  hatched  out,  the  workers  provide  different 
food  for  the  larvae  from  that  which  is  fed  to  workers 
and  drones.     This  food,  which  has  been  termed  royal 

*Larv<B  is  the  term  given  to  the  worms  or  grubs  until  the  cells 
are  sealed.  From  the  sealing  of  the  cells,  to  full  development,  a 
nymph,  pupa  or  m/sate ;  yet  the  term  larva  is  properly  applied, 
by  some  naturalists,  during  the  whole  period  of  the  embryo  state. 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  31 

jelly,  immediately  changes  the  nature  of  its  recipient, 
and  the  properties  of  a  queen  begin  to  be  unfolded.  The 
size  of  the  cell,  and  its  vertical  position,  perhaps  has 
some  influence  and  agency,  in  producing  a  royal  scion ; 
but  the  grand  elixer,  is  the  royal  jelly,  as  is  universally 
supposed,  that  effects  the  change. 

The  only  man  that  ever  pretended  to  have  actually 
discov^ed  this  royal  pap,  is  Huber ;  for  there  was  no- 
thing under  heaven  that  he  could  not  discover,  through 
his  assistant,  Beurnens,  who  used  '•'  to  upset  the  bee  hives 
on  the  death  of  a  member  of  the  family  !"  He  not  only 
saw  it,  but  tasted  it,  as  he  states. 

Huber  gave  it  the  name  of  royal  jelly,  and  on  giving 
his  discoveries  to  the  world,  naturalists  promulgated  his 
theory,  and  many  apiarians  have  become  re-echoers  of 
it.  Some,  indeed,  do  contend,  that  it  takes  a  queen  egg 
to  produce  a  queen,  but  they  are  behind  the  age.  This 
assumption  will  not  stand  a  moment.  I  have  time  and 
again,  proved  that  a  worker  egg  will  jJroduce  a  queen .' 
as  I  shall  relate,  at  the  proper  time.  And  in  regard  to 
the  theory  of  "  royal  jelly,"  it  is  quite  plausible,  for,  if  it 
be  not  a  different  food,  that  produces  queens,  lohat  can 
it  be ?  No  man,  in  my  opinion,  kno\\s  anything  more 
about  this  royal  jelly,  or  whether  it  does  or  does  not 
exist,  than  perhaps  the  reader,  who  perchance  does  not 
know  a  queen  bee  from  a  icorker  or  drone ;  yet  the  gi'eat 
and  wondarful  truth  stands  impregnable,  that  a  different 
treatment  does  produce  queens,  and  that  positively,  there 
is  no  difference  in  the  egg  used  for  this  purpose,  and 
that,  from  which  a  worker  emerges ! 


33  miner's    AMERICAN 

We  must,  then,  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  it  is  the 
food  that  makes  the  change ;  and  we  will  continue  to 
affirm,  that  it  is  the  royal  jelly,  that  effects  the  change, 
not  at  all  fearing,  that  any  one  will  ever  be  able  to  prove 
us  to  be  in  error,  as  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  man,  ever 
to  go  beyond  simple  conjecture  on  this  point. 

THE  FORMATION  OF  A  NEW  aUEEN  IN  THE  PLACE  ^^F  ONE 
THAT  DIES,  OR  IS  LOST. 

The  bees  having  the  power  to  make  queens  at  will, 
from  worker  eggs,  it  follows  as  a  natural  consequence, 
that  in  the  case  of  the  death  of  a  queen,  or  of  her  loss  when 
absent  from  the  hive,  which  does  sometimes  happen, 
they  can  at  once  supply  her  place,  provided  that  she  left 
any  eggs,  or  larvae  less  than  four  days  old.  Hei'e  we  find 
one  of  the  most  wonderful  provisions  of  nature,  pertain- 
ing to  the  natural  economy  of  the  bee  :  for,  were  they 
not  able  to  thus  replace  the  loss  of  a  queen,  this  insect 
would  soon  become  extinct. 

There  are  seasons,  however,  in  which  the  queen  may 
die  and  leave  no  eggs,  or  larvae  behind  her  under  four 
days  old;  and  in  such  cases,  the  family  must  perish^ 
unless  supplied  with  a  new  queen  by  their  proprietor, 
or  a  piece  of  comb,  containing  eggs,  or  larvae  of  a  suit- 
able age;  and  in  such  a  case,  the  proffered  comb,  if  pro- 
perly attached  in  the  hive,  in  a  natural  position,  answers 
every  purpose  of  larvae  left  by  the  queen,  ^ut  such 
seasons  or  instances  are  not  frequent  with  well  peopled 
hives,  for  larvae  may  be  found  in  such  hives,  to  a  greater 
or  less  extent,  almost  every  month  in  the  year.     Even 


bee-keeper's  manual  33 

in  the  dead  of  winter,  larvae  have  frequently  been  found 
in  the  centres  of  very  strong  stocks*  or  swarms ;  and  it 
appears  to  be  thus  ordained  by  nature,  in  erder  to  always 
admit  of  the  bees  being  able  to  provide  against  the  loss 
of  their  sovereign.  In  their  natural  state  in  the  forest 
with  an  abundance  of  room,  perhaps  they  never  expe- 
rience the  loss  of  a  queen,  without  being  able  to  replace 
her,  except  in  cases  of  small  swarms  issuing,  in  which 
.case,  they  would  be  liable  to  the  same  casualties  of  do- 
mestic  swarms,  until  they  have  existed  a  season  or  two, 
and  have  become  numerous. 

THE  SUPPOSED  CAUSE  OF  THE   FORMATION  OF  FERTILE 
WORKERS. 

The  reader  now  having  a  little  insight  into  the  man- 
ner in  which  queens  are  made,  I  will  proceed  to  state 
in  what  manner  these  semi-fertile  workers  are  supposed 
to  be  produced  ;  for,  I  must  inform  the  reader,  that  all 
the  insight  that  has  ever  yet  been  obtained  on  this  sub- 
lect,  is  nothing  more  than  simple  conjecture  and  hypo- 
thesis. This  is,  as  I  have  observed,  "  terra  incognita" 
or  unknown  land,  to  the  apiarian  explorer,  and  may  be 
set  down  as  one  of  the  unfathomable  mysteries  of  the 
nature  of  the  bee. 

The  royal  cells  being  constructed,  or  in  progress  of 
construction,  and  containing  the  larvae  to  be  transformed 
into  queens,  and  being  fed  on  the  royal  jelly,  as  afore- 

*  Every  family  of  bees  is  termed  a  stoclcs  after  the  first  year  of 
their  existence,  and  a  swarm  during  the  first  year  or  season. 


34  miner's    AMERICAN 

said,  it  is  supposed  that  on  some  occasions,  that  the 
worker  larvae,  situated  immediately  adjoining  the  royal 
cells,  may,  either  by  accident,  or  otherwise,  be  fed  a 
little  of  the  royal  pap,  which,  not  being  sufficient  to  pro- 
duce queens,  and  only  enough  to  so  far  develop  their 
ovaries,  as  to  enable  them  to  lay  drone-eggs  only. 

It  is  not  probable,  even  if  the  above  hypothesis  be 
true,  that  workers  would  become  sufficiently  fertile  to 
be  able  to  lay  both  drone  and  worker-eggs,  by  being 
wholly  fed  on  royal  food,  since  the  shape  and  position 
of  a  royal  cell,  has  its  peculiar  effect  upon  its  tenant, 
otherwise  such  cells  would  not  be  constructed,  as  bees 
do  nothing  without  a  good  leason. 

A  CASE  OF  RETARDED  IMPREGNATION  IN  THE  aUEEN,  OR  OP 
FERTILE  WORKERS,  COMING  UNDER  THE  AUTHOR's  OWN 
OBSERVATION. 

I  will  now  relate  what  took  place  under  my  own  im- 
mediate observation,  iu  regard  to  the  laying  of  drone- 
eggs  in  one  of  my  hives. 

On  examining  one  of  my  hives  early  the  present  sea- 
son, (1848)  I  found  a  swarm  of  last  year  in  a  very  weak 
condition,  not  having  above  two  or  three  hundred  bees 
in  it.  How  this  diminution  in  numbers  happened,  or 
what  the  cause  was,  I  could  not  imagine ;  since  the 
swarm  was  large,  and  in  good  condition  apparently,  last 
fall ;  having  filled  the  hive  with  comb,  and  having  laid 
in  an  abundance  of  honey  for  winter  consumption.  I 
closely  watched  this  hive,  to  ascertain  whether  any  of 
the  few  bees  it  contained  gathered  farina ;  as  that  fact 


bee-keeper's  manual.  35 

would  throw  some  light  on  their  condition,  since  where 
the  queen  is  lost,  the  bees  never  gather  this  food  of  the 
larvae,  because  they  have  no  necessity  for  it,  while  in 
that  condition.  I  did  perceive  an  occasional  bee  enter 
with  pellets  of  farina,  and  I  at  once  took  it  for  granted, 
that  the  queen  was  among  them,  and  that  she  would 
prove  fertile ;  but  owing  to  the  very  small  number  of 
bees  composing  her  family,  I  was  aware  that  it  would 
be  very  late  in  the  season,  before  she  would  be  able  to 
replenish  the  hive  in  numbers,  owing  to  the  difficulty  in 
generating  the  necessary  animal  heat.  After  watching 
during  the  month  of  May,  in  vain,  for  any  apparent  in- 
crease, I  concluded  that  if  the  hive  remained  much 
longer  in  that  condition,  the  moths  would  take  posses- 
sion, and  give  the  handful  of  bees  therein  "  notice  to 
quit;"  and  if  they  should  manifest  any  disposition  to 
refuse  to  comply  with  so  reasonable  a  requisition,  a 
"writ  of  ejectment"  would  speedily  follow;  and  not 
wishing  to  have  any  controversies  arise  between  my 
bees  and  so  stubborn  a  creature  as  the  moth,  touching 
the  right  of  possession,  I  immediately  commenced  cut- 
ting out  a  portion  of  the  combs,  in  order  to  give  the 
bees  a  better  chance  to  defend  themselves,  in  case  of 
being  intruded  upon. 

In  cutting  out  these  combs,  I  discovered  in  one  of  the 
centre  combs,  near  to  the  top  of  the  hive,  a  piece  of 
brood,  about  two  or  three  inches  square,  which  was  en- 
tirely c?ro7ie-brood.  I  searched  in  vain  for  any  trace  of 
worker-brood,  nor  did  I  find  a  solitary  worker  larva,  up 
to  about  the  20th  of  June,  when  the  family  was  destroy- 


36  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

ed ;  but  I  found  a  small  increase  of  drone-larvae,  and  the 
most  of  what  I  originally  discovered,  regularly  matured. 
On  making  the  discovery  of  drone-brood,  I  searched 
in  vain  for  the  queen,  and  being  able,  with  the  feather 
end  of  a  quill,  to  almost  bring  every  bee  in  sight,  and 
after  many  attempts  at  her  discovery,  not  seeing  any 
signs  of  royalty,  save  the  brood  as  before  stated,  I  came 
to  the  conclusion,  that  I  had  a  veritable  instance  of  the 
fecundity  of  workers !  I  was  forced  to  become  a  dis- 
ciple of  Huber,  on  the  fertility  of  workers  in  certain 
cases,  and  that  they  lay  drone-eggs  only,  that  is,  for  the 
time  being,  until  a  new  feature  was  thrown  over  the 
subject.  About  the  20th  of  June,  I  had  several  swarms 
issue  on  the  same  day,  and  unexpectedly  finding  myself 
without  hives,  I  concluded  that  I  might  as  well  take  the 
hive  in  question,  and  use  it ;  since  it  was  out  of  the 
question,  for  it  to  be  re-peopled  by  its  present  occupants, 
and  I  accordingly  took  it,  and  used  it  in  a  case  where 
two  swarms  had  clustered  together.  I  took  it  just  as  it 
was,  with  its  bees,  honey  and  combs,  and  having  put 
about  half  of  the  two  swarms  into  another  hive,  I  im- 
mediately put  the  other  half  into  this  hive,  and  placed 
the  two  about  a  foot  apart,  so  that  in  case  I  missed  get- 
ting a  queen  in  either  of  them,  the  bees  in  the  hive  in 
which  no  queen  should  chance  to  be,  would  find  the 
other  hive  easily  and  enter  it.  How  great  w^as  my  sur- 
prise to  find  that  a  war  of  extermination  was  immedi- 
ately waged  against  the  few  bees  in  the  hive  containing 
the  drone-brood,  and  in  half  an  houi',  every  bee  that 
originally  inhabited  it,  lay  dead  upon  the  blanket,  upon 


bee-keeper's  manual.  37 

which  the  hive  was  placed,  and  among  the  slain  ivas  a 
queen,  perfect  in  size  and  form  !  The  question  then 
arose,  where  did  this  dead  queen  come  from  ?  If  there 
had  been  a  queen  with  that  portion  of  the  two  swarms, 
that  I  had  forced  into  this  hive,  such  queen  would  then 
not  have  been  killed  by  them.  Had  there  been  more 
than  one  queen  in  this  portion  of  the  swarm,  then  it 
would  have  been  ver}-  natural  for  one  to  have  been  im- 
mediately killed  by  the  other ;  and  in  such  case  the  bees 
would  have  remained  contented  with  the  remainingr 
queen  ;  but  in  a  few  hours  the  whole  of  the  bees  left  this 
hive  in  which  the  queen  had  lost  her  life,  and  joined  the 
other  half  of  the  swarms,  thus  giving  conclusive  evidence 
that  both  queens  of  the  two  swarms  were  in  the  first 
hive,  and  consequently,  the  small  family  of  bees,  that  I 
had  considered  to  be  without  a  queen,  did  actually  pos- 
sess one,  and  it  was  her  majesty  that  had  perished  with 
her  subjects. 

In  all  cases  of  my  experience,  I  had  found  that  differ- 
ent families  of  bees,  or  swarms  mix  peaceably  together, 
while  being  hived ;  hence  my  surprise  at  the  fight  in  this 
instance ;  but  it  must  have  been  the  existence  of  a  queen 
among  them,  and  the  treasure  of  honey  that  engendered 
so  deadly  a  strife. 

When  the  bees  departed  from  this  hive,  in  which  the 
battle  had  taken  place,  not  a  drop  of  honey  remained. 
It  had  all  been  taken  in  their  honey  bags,  to  deposit 
wherever  a  permanent  abode  should  be  found. 

Huber  has  stated  that  queens  are  never  slain  by 
workers  in  combat,  but  here  is  an  instance  to  the  con- 


38  MINERS    AMERICAN 

trary,  of  such  a  nature,  as  not  to  admit  of  a  question,  of 
the  queen  being  killed  in  the  general  melee,  and  by  the 
workers,  too. 

I  recently  met  with  another  instance  of  an  attempt 
on  the  life  of  a  queen  by  workers.  During  a  remarka- 
able  season  of  cold,  wet  and  drizzly  weather,  that  lasted 
about  two  weeks,  some  of  my  bees  commenced  robbing 
their  weaker  neighbors,  and  one  day,  while  standing  in 
front  of  one  of  these  invaded  hives,  watching  the  de- 
structive strife,  I  beheld  a  queen  on  the  ground  directly 
in  front  of  the  combatants,  struggling  with  a  worker. 
The  worker  embraced  her,  with  curved  abdomen,  en- 
deavoring to  find  a  penetrable  point,  in  which  to  plant 
its  deadly  sting.  I  seized  the  queen,  but  in  my  anxiety 
to  save  her  from  harm,  she  escaped  and  flew  away.  At 
evening,  I  found  her  in  a  cluster,  near  the  entrance  of 
the  hive,  in  front  of  which  I  first  discovered  her. 

I  mention  this  fact  to  show  that  workers  pay  no  re- 
spect to  royalty,  when  engaged  in  a  general  warfare. 
In  this  case,  it  is  probable,  that  the  queen  was  forced 
out  of  the  hive,  in  the  conflict  that  was  raging  within, 
and  was  passively  the  object  of  one  of  the  robbers'  ven- 
geance when  discovered.  I  say  passively,  for  whatever 
may  be  the' attack  upon  a  queen  by  a  worker,  she  never 
retaliates.  She  never  lowers  her  dignity  sufficiently  to 
return  a  thrust  made  by  a  subject,  but,  as  it  were,  bares 
her  breast  and  says,  "  slay  me,  if  you  have  a  heart  to  do 
it.  I  choose  death  rather  than  defence."  But  let  queen 
be  pitted  against  queen,  and  how  changed  the  scene ! 
The  modest  non-resisting  queen,   that  tamely  suffers 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  39 

death  from  an  unfeeling  subject,  now  rises  in  her  ma- 
jesty, and  with  eager  and  deadly  aim,  rushes  to  the  com- 
bat— the  struggle  is  short,  one  of  the  two  soon  lies  in 
the  last  pangs  of  death ! 

To  return  to  our  little  family,  that  met  so  untimely  an 
end — the  dead  queen  changed  the  aspect  of  the  case 
materially,  and  I  was  forced  to  conclude,  that  instead  of 
the  drone-brood  being  the  production  of  fertile  workers, 
it  must  have  been  the  work  of  a  queen ;  and  here  comes 
up  the  question  of  retarded  impregnation. 

The  reader  will  recollect,  that  I  have  stated,  that 
Huber  experimented  on  retarded  impregnation,  and 
that  he  states,  that  when  a  queen  is  retarded  beyond 
the  twenty-first  day  of  her  age,  in  her  impregnation, 
she  lays  only  <frone-eggs  thereafter,  during  her  whole 
life! 

In  the  foregoing  case,  1  examined  the  premises  thor- 
oughly, to  see  what  ground  I  had  for  taking  this  latter 
assumption  of  Huber,  as  being  applicable  to  the  case  be- 
fore me,  and  I  found  much  to  strengthen  me  in  the  be- 
lief, and  in  fact  to  render  it  almost  certain,  that  it  was 
an  instance  of  retarded  impregnation,  beyond  a  reason- 
able doubt.  In  the  first  place,  I  found  some  six  or  eight 
royal  cells  in  this  hive,  that  had  been  constructed  the 
season  previous ;  and  since  a  swarm  never  constructs 
any  royal  cells  the  first  season,  unless  it  be  in  very  rare 
instances  of  large  early  swarms,  that  throw  off  a  swarm 
the  same  season,  and  this  swarm  not  being  an  early 
one,  and  to  my  certain  knowledge,  not  bein^  in  a  con- 
dition to  throw  off  a  swarm  at  any  time  during  the  sea- 


40  miner's    AMERICAN 

son,  the  question  arises,  why  ivere  these  royal  cells  con- 
structed ? 

The  probable  solution  to  this  query  is,  that  sometime 
in  August  or  September,  the  queen  belonging  to  this 
hive,  from  some  cause,  was  lost,  and  the  workers  avail- 
ing themselves  of  their  power  to  replace  her,  or  create 
another  in  her  stead,  constructed  the  royal  cells  as  above, 
and  reared  a  queen.  This  queen  coming  into  existence, 
at  a  period  when  very  few  drones  exist,  if  any  at  all, 
must,  from  that  cause,  have  found  great  difficulty  in 
encountering  them  on  the  wing,  and  hence,  a  retarded 
impregnation  is  almost  certain  to  result  to  every  queen 
under  such  circumstances.  In  large  apiaries,  say  of  fif- 
teen or  twenty  hives,  there  is  generally  some  one  or  two 
hives  that  allow  a  portion  of  the  drones  to  survive  much 
later  than  usual,  and  where  such  drones  do  exist,  a 
young  queen  may,  after  many  flights,  succeed  in  her 
amours. 

DIFFICULTY  OF*  EFFECTING  THE    IMPREGNATION  OF  aUEENS 
AT  PARTICULAR  SEASONS. 

Huber  states,  that  on  the  occasion  of  a  young  queen 
coming  forth  at  a  season  of  the  year,  after  the  usual 
massacre  of  drones,  he  witnessed  her  ineffectual  flights 
in  search  of  them,  for  many  days ;  at  last  she  returned 
bearing  evidence  of  success.  This  accords  with  my  own 
experience  in  similar  cases,  and  I  must,  therefore,  come 
to  the  conclusion,  that  mine  was  a  case  of  retarded  im- 
pregnation'of  the  queen,  since  every  fact  pertaining  to 
the  case,  goes  strongly  to  prove  it.     We  account  for  the 


bee-keeper's  manual.  41 

great  decrease  of  bees  thus: — the  fall  months  of  the 
season  were  a  perfect  blank  in  the  increase  of  this  family ; 
hence,  when  spring  came,  as  a  matter  of  course,  we  find 
but  a  very  few  bees  alive,  for  the  majority  of  all  bees 
existing  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  are  brought  into  being 
during  the  fall  months  previous. 

FERTILE  WORKERS  NEVER  EXIST,  EXCEPT  IN   CASES  OF  A 
FAILURE  TO  PRODUCE  A  aUEEN. 

Another  circumstance  attending  the  existence  of  fer- 
tile workers  is,  that  they  never  do  exist,  only  in  cases  in 
which  the  bees  have  been  unsuccessful  in  rearing  a 
queen. 

When  a  queen  comes  into  existence,  her  natural  aver- 
sion, and  unrelenting  animosity  towards  any  thing  like 
rivalry,  cause  her  to  rush  on  all  other  queens  yet  in 
embr}'0,  and  such  workers  as  have  had  the  misfortune 
to  take  a  sip  of  royal  jelly,  are  scented  out  for  immedi- 
ate slaughter.  But  when  a  failure  in  raising  a  queen 
takes  place,  these  poor  royal  pap  workers  are  allowed 
to  exist  so  long  as  no  queen  is  present  to  immolate  them. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen,  that  the  chances  of  such  fertile 
workers  coming  under  the  observation  of  apiarians,  is 
quite  limited. 

There  is  much  interesting  information  concerning 
the  habits  and  economy  of  this  class  of  bees,  that  can- 
not well  be  embraced  in  an  especial  chapter  devoted  to 
workers ;  but  such  matter  will  be  unfolded,  through  the 
various  subjects  that  I  shall  consider  essential  to  dis- 
cuss  hereafter,   in    succeeding  chapters.      The   same 


42  miner's  AMERICAN  BEE-KEEPER's  MANUAL. 

may  be  said  of  both  queens  and  drones;  yet  I  have 
thought  it  best  to  confine  as  much  matter  as  possible, 
in  separate  chapters,  devoted  to  each  respective  class — 
the  better  to  guide  the  reader  in  his  researches,  for 
any  particular  information  that  he  may  wish  to  refer 
to. 


CHAPTER    III. 


DRONES. 

The  drones  are  the  largest  class  of  bees  in  the  family. 
Their  bodies  are  thick,  short  and  clumsy,  and  obtuse  at 
each  extremity.  There  are  two  descriptions  of  males — 
one  not  larger  than  a  worker.  This  class  of  drones  is 
but  seldom  seen.  How  they  are  produced,  is  a  subject 
for  speculation.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  they  only 
exist,  when  the  queen  has  deposited  a  portion  of  drone- 
eggs  in  wo7'ker-ce\\s ;  the  size  of  which  will  not  admit 
of  a  full  development.  The  common  drones  are  as  large 
as  two  workers.  The  head  and  trunk  are  covered  with 
dense  hairs — much  more  dense  than  on  workers,  or  on 
the  queen.  Their  wings  are  large,  and  extend  to  the 
full  length  of  the  abdomen.  Drones  have  no  sting,  and 
may  be  handled  with  perfect  impunity.  They  make  a 
loud,  buzzing  noise  when  on  the  wing. 

NATURAL  USES  OF  DRONES. 

The  natural  uses  of  drones  have  hitherto  been  a  sub- 
ject on  which  the  greatest  contrariety  of  opinion  has 
/xtriVt^^  •  rtono/^iallv   in    Eurone.      In    our   owrn    pDiinti-T- 


44  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

those  few  authors  who  have  written  on  the  bee,  liave, 
as  I  before  stated.,  servilely  copied  the  endorsement  of 
Ruber's  theory,  from  foreign  works  circulated  here ;  that 
is,  in  such  treatises  as  have  made  any  attempt  to  eluci- 
date the  natural  history  of  the  bee ;  consequently  the 
question  has  not  been  subject  to  that  dispute  here,  that 
it  has  been  in  England  and  on  the  continent. 

Ruber's  theory  of  the  impregnation  of  the  queen,  has 
met  with  a  very  strong  opposition  in  Europe,  even  to 
ridicule;  yet  I  consider  him  right — yes,  not  admitting 
of  a  doubt  in  the  mind  of  any  man,  who  will  look  into 
the  subject,  with  a  mind  untrammelled  by  prejudice. 

The  drones  appear  to  be  a  superfluous  legion,  of  no 
use  at  all,  but  rather  a  disadvantage.  This  class  of  the 
honey-bee,  derive  their  name  from  their  general  lazy 
habits,  spending  their  time  in  luxury,  and  feeding  upon 
the  stores  gathered  by  the  ever  industrious  workers. 
They  collect  no  honey  at  all,  for  the  reason,  that  nature 
has  not  provided  them  with  honey  bags,  such  as  the 
workers  possess,  to  contain  collected  sweets;  neither 
have  they  any  cavities,  or  baskets  upon  their  legs,  as 
workers  have,  to  hold  pollen  or  farina.  This  insect  is 
the  only  thing  known  to  exist  in  the  animate  creation, 
unprovided  with  the  means  of  supplying  itself  with  food 
from  the  boundless  store-house  of  nature.  A  drone  could 
not  exist  a  day,  were  it  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  feed- 
ing on  the  stores  of  the  hive  already  gathered.  They 
are  never  seen  to  alight  on  any  flower,  or  doing  any 
thing  to  aid  the  prosperity  of  the  colony.  In  one  re- 
spect they  difler  entirely  from  the  workers,  having  the 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  45 

liberty  of  entering  different  hives  with  perfect  impunity, 
while  a  worker  enters  any  hive  but  its  own,  at  the  peril 
of  its  life. 

Now,  the  question  is,  what  are  these  apparently  use- 
less bees  for?  Would  not  our  apiaries  be  generally 
benefitted,  could  we  banish  these  lazy  drones  from  our 
hives  ?  This  may  reasonably  seem  to  be  the  case,  to 
one  not  acquainted  with  the  natural  history  of  the  bee ; 
but  should  we  banish  these  bees  from  our  hives,  depopu- 
lation would  speedily  follow. 

CAUSE  OF  THE   EXISTENCE  OF  SO  MANY  DRONES. 

However  mysterious  the  ways  of  animate  nature  may 
appear,  nothing  is  created  in  vain.  Nature,  in  order  to 
ensure  her  legitimate  objects  of  fructification,  is  ever 
profuse,  often  far  exceeding  the  positive  requirements  of 
the  case,  as  we  may  view  it;  but  after  all,  nature  is 
right  and  we  are  wrong.  Look,  for  instance,  to  the 
fructifying  farina  of  the  tassel  of  maize,  that  contains  a 
thousand  times  the  quantity  that  is  necessary  to  give 
birth  to  the  ears  that  brace  each  stalk  around.  The 
captious  and  precarious  winds,  that  are  commissioned 
to  waft  this  farina  to  its  destiny,  are  not  to  be  relied 
upon ;  hence  the  vast  superabundance  that  nature  has 
provided  to  render  fertility  sure. 

Not  unlike  this  is  the  legion  of  drones  that  lazily  hang 
around  our  hives ;  and  where  a  thousand  exist,  nine  hun- 
dred and  ninety -nine  are  perfectly  useless,  save  upon  the 
same  principle  of  superabundance,  as  shown  above. 


46  miner's    AMERICAN 

The  only  object  for  which  drones  are  brought  into 
existence  is  the  impregnation  of  the  queen,  and  if  a  less 
number  existed,  her  fecundity  would  be  jeopardized,  in 
the  ratio  of  the  decrease. 

IMPREGNATION  OPERATIVE  FOR  LIFE. 

Coition  is  always  effected  high  on  the  wing,  and  when 
once  effected,  it  is  operative  for  an  entire  season — even 
during  the  entire  life  of  the  queen.  The  cavillers  at 
this  theory,  attempt  to  cast  ridicule  on  the  hypothesis, 
of  a  single  impregnation  being  sufficient  for  the  natural 
life  of  the  queen  ;  and,  say  they,  "  we  admit  that  if  your 
theory  has  any  ground  to  stand  upon,  it  is  reasonable  to 
suppose,  that  a  single  impregnation  would  suffice  for  one 
season,  since  analogy  teaches  that ;  but  how  do  you  sup- 
pose that  an  impregnation  this  spring,  effects  the  queen 
at  her  next  spring  laying  ;  since  the  winter  months  are 
a  season  of  barrenness  with  her,  and  certainly  no  man 
in  his  senses  would  suppose  that  the  coition  of  the  year 
before,  could  possibly  have  any  influence  on  her  at  that 
period  !  You  may  as  well  say,  that  the  dung-hill  fowl 
has  no  need  of  the  male  after  the  first  impregnation,  to 
render  her  eggs  productive  during  her  whole  life  !'' 

All  this  is  reasonable  logic,  but  it  avails  nothing  in 
the  case  before  us,  since  there  is  so  much  in  the  history 
of  the  bee,  that  has  no  analogous  bearing  with  any  other 
similar  matter  in  animate  nature,  that  we  cannot  rest 
any  theory  solely  upon  such  a  basis. 

We  must,  and  do  confess,  that  if  any  positive  proof 
can  be  adduced,  showing  that  impregnation  is  not  ef- 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  47 

fectual,  even  during  the  natural  life  of  the  queen,  then 
the  theory  of  impregnation  with  the  drones  on  the  wing 
is  untenable.  But  such  proof  cannot  be  adduced — on 
the  other  h^d,  it  is  perfectly  reasonable,  that  the  queen 
should  never  lose  the  virtue  of  a  primary  coition,  be- 
cause there  is  seldom,  or  never,  a  total  cessation  of  lay- 
ing in  the  strongest  families.  I  contend  that  in  every 
strong  and  healthy  family  of  bees,  brood  may  be  found 
every  month  in  the  year,  and  that  the  ovary  of  the 
queen  is  never  wholly  void  of  the  fecundating  principle, 
after  once  being  fully  impregnated.  I  do  not  say  that 
brood  may  be  found  in  every  hive,  because  half  of  the 
hives  in  existence  at  the  present  time,  are  not  in  that 
'condition  that  nature  intended  a  family  of  bees  to  be  in. 

There  have  been  so  many  tinkers  at  work,  of  late 
years,  in  forcing  bees  out  of  their  natural  habits,  that  it 
would  not  be  surprising  if  the  whole  race  of  bees  should 
become  extinct,  before  the  beginning  of  the  next  cen- 
tury. Nature  so  intended  a  family  of  bees,  that  a  suf- 
ficient body  of  them  should  always  be  together,  to  be 
able  to  generate  a  natural  animal  heat  even  in  the  dead 
of  winter ;  and  such  families,  having  a  healthy  queen,  will 
seldom  or  never  be  wholly  void  of  brood  in  their  tene- 
ments. I  do  not  suppose  or  contend,  that  in  the  winter 
season,  the  bees  are  breeding  so  as  to  make  any  mate- 
rial accession  to  their  numbers,  even  in  a  state  of  the 
greatest  prosperity,  but  a  very  few  larvae  may  be  found 
in  the  coldest  weather,  in  many  strong  families. 

But  what  are  v/e  to  do  with  those  families  that  are 
vjreak,  and  in  which  the  queens  discontinue  laying  in 


48  MINER  S   AMERICAN 

the  fall,  and  do  not  commence  again  until  the  following 
spring?  Such  queens  have  no  possible  opportunity  to 
have  commerce  witii  the  drones,  and  yet  they  are  fer- 
tile. Here  is  undoubtedly  a  cessation  of  ^vi-positing, 
for  some  four  months.  Does  the  impregnation  of  the 
spring  previous,  operate  in  this  case  ?  It  unquestion- 
ably does,  however  strange  it  may  appear.  I  look  upon 
the  question  in  this  light : — that  the  germ  of  the  ovary, 
after  having  bee'n  fructified,  never  wholly  loses  the  effi- 
cacy of  coition,  and  though  there  be  a  cessation  of  lay- 
ing, yet  the  germinating  principle  is  never  lost,  but 
rather  lies  dormant,  until  the  genial  warmth  of  spring 
arouses  it  to  action. 

If  the  foregoing  premises  be  fallacious,  let  us  have 
a  proof  of  its  fallacy.  They  who  deny  this  theory, 
do  not  pretend  to  adduce  any  theory  at  all,  but  rather 
suffer  the  case  to  go  by  default. 

VISIONARY  ALLEGED  USES  OF  DRONES. 

Some  apiarians,  however,  contend  that  the  drones  fruc- 
tify the  eggs  as  fast  as  laid,  by  some  means  that  they  can- 
not well  explain,  and  this  is  their  sole  use ;  but  when 
asked  how  the  eggs  that  are  laid  in  the  spring,  before 
any  drones  exist,  become  fructified,  they  acknowledge 
their  inability  to  answer.  Thus  is  this  question  beset 
with  difficulties  that  will  probably  remain  as  long  as 
time  lasts. 

The  time  when  drones  appear,  as  well  as  the  time 
when  they  disappear,  strongly  shows  that  their  use  can 
be  no  other  than  the  fructification  of  queens.     If  their 


bee-keeper's  manual.  49 

use  were  for  the  various  purposes  that  have  been  ascribed 
to  them,  such  as  fructifying  the  eggs — feeding  the  lar- 
vae— sitting  on  the  eggs — producing  the  necessary  heat 
in  the  hive,  for  maturing  the  brood  in  due  season,  &c., 
how  is  it,  that  the  brood  is  regularly  perfected,  when  not 
a  solitary  drone  exists  ?  In  the  spring  and  fall,  we  find 
the  brood  going  through  the  different  stages,  to  perfect 
development ;  but  no  drones  exist  at  that  time ;  hence 
it  is  time  lost  to  argue  this  question,  with  those  who  ad- 
vance so  unreasonable  positions. 

I  consider  the  above  uses  ascribed  to  drones  perfectly 
chimerical ;  rather  exciting  a  little  surprise,  that  so 
palpable  errors  should  be  promulgated  at  this  late  day, 
by  men  professing  a  scientific  knowledge  of  the  nature 
and  economy  of  the  bee.  ' 

Another  gross  error  is  promulgated,  and  confidently 
believed,  in  many  parts  of  Europe,  and  especially  Poland, 
in  regard  to  the  uses  of  drones,  which  is,  that  they  are 
especially  and  solely  the  "  water  carriers"  of  the  family! 
I  have  a  Polish  work  on  bees  before  me,  making  this  as- 
sertion, as  gravely  as  if  the  author  were  promulgating  a 
well  known  truth,  that  admits  of  no  refutation,  or  even 
question  of  its  accuracy.  This,  as  well  as  the  foregoing 
uses  of  drones,  are  the  visionary  fallacies  of  bee-keepers 
of  old  times — many  centuries  ago  ;  and  which,  with 
numerous  others,  as  wild  and  ridiculous  as  the  ignorance 
and  superstition  of  the  times  could  engender,  still  exist 
to  a  great  extent,  among  the  bee-keepers  of  every  coun- 
try. It  were  a  Herculerian  task  to  eradicate  these  su- 
perstitious traditions — sooner  would  I  attempt  to  civilize 
3 


50  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

and  educate  the  Hottentot  of  Africa,  than  to  attempt  to 
unlearn  the  unread  bee-keepers  of  our  country,  of  all 
their  whims  and  traditionary  notions,  respecting  the 
honey-bee.  Their  knowledge  of  this  insect  is  rated  by 
the  length  of  time  that  bees  have  been  kept  in  the  family  ; 
and  that  man  who  dates  a  family  possession  through 
several  generations,  would  be  a  dangerous  person  to  ex- 
postulate with  on  the  impropriety  of  his  management, 
for,  it  were  ten  chances  to  one,  that  we  should  receive 
a  forcible  illustration  of  the  strength  of  his  arguments, 
in  the  way  of  ejectment  from  his  premises. 

HUISH  ENCOUNTERS  A  SAVAN  BEE-KEEPER. 

Huish  relates  an  instance  of  his  being  introduced 
to  a  genus  of  this  species,  who  had  kept  bees  a  long 
time,  and  who  supposed  that  he  was  the  veritable 
"  Prince  of  apiarians ;"  and  on  some  improvement  being 
suggested  by  him,  followed  and  backed  by  argument,  he 
was  politely  shown  the  way  to  the  street,  in  so  signifi- 
cant a  manner,  that  it  would  have  been  rashness  to  have 
delayed  the  parley. 

Nothing  will  excite  the  ire  of  these  gentry  so  much 
as  to  question  their  knowledge  of  the  true  science  of 
bee-management.  In  consequence  of  this  fact,  I  have 
ever  avoided  any  controversy  with  people  of  this  de- 
scription ;  and  on  a  recent  tour  through  the  State  of 
New  York,  I  made  it  a  point  to  call  on  every  bee-keeper 
in  my  route,  that  I  could  visit  conveniently,  merely  to 
gratify  a  curiosity  that  I  felt,  to  see  how  they  generally 
managed  bees.     I  eficited  their  management  by  simple 


bee-keeper's  manual,  51 

questions,  and  they  generally  took  great  pains  to  give 
me  all  the  information  in  their  power ;  for  I  never  ven- 
tured to  play  the  teacher,  but  humbly  and  civilly  re- 
ceived instruction  from  them,  such  as  they  were  able  to 
impart,  being  a  stereotype  of  the  management  that  was 
in  vogue  centuries  ago,  to  a  great  extent. 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  many  apiarians, 
who  have  not  despised  to  read  and  learn.  One  gentle- 
man opened  the  chamber  of  one  of  his  hives,  and  to  my 
surprise,  drew  forth  several  volumes  on  the  management 
of  bees,  which  he  was  accustomed  to  study,  under  the 
balmy  shade  of  the  surrounding  trees.  I  found,  on  the 
whole,  a  spirit  of  inquiry  abroad  on  the  subject,  and 
many  had  been  the  willing  victims  in  the  purchase  of  a 
variety  of  patent  hives — not  one  of  which  answers  the 
purpose,  as  recommended. ! 

One  gentleman  said  that  he  would  give  a  large  sum 
of  money,  if  his  bees  were  out  of  a  lot  of  patent  hives, 
and  back  in  his  old-fashioned  boxes ;  and  I  found  the 
same  desire  prevalent  among  almost  every  one,  who  had 
embarked  in  patents,  to  any  great  extent  of  time. 

WHEN  DRONES  APPEAR  AND  DISAPPEAR. 

Dr.  Bevan  says,  "the  drones  make  their  appearance 
about  the  end  of  April,  and  are  never  to  be  seen  after 
the  middle  of  August,  except  under  very  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances." 

In  my  experience,  I  have  found  that  the  drones  do 
not  appear,  to  any  great  extent,  until  the  latter  part  of 
May ;  and  the  general  massacre  takes  place  in  July,  and 


52  miner's    AMERICAN 

is  continued  through  August,  1  have  this  day  (August 
23d,  1848)  seen  many  drones  about  my  hives,  and  still 
under  no  "peculiar  circumstances." 

The  great  slaughter  has  generally  been  consummated 
among  the  tenants  of  my  apiary;  yet  scattering  drones 
are  found  here  and  there  that  have  escaped  an  unnatu- 
ral death.  I  am  fully  aware  of  the  "  peculiar  circum- 
stances," to  which  Dr.  Bevan  refers,  but  I  think  that 
author  is  in  error,  when  he  says,  that  drones  are  never 
to  be  seen  after  the  middle  of  August,  unless  under  pe- 
cJiar  circumstances.  He  should  have  put  it  owe  month 
later. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  appearance  of  the  great  body 
of  the  drones  is  coeval  with  swarming,  and  their  disap- 
pearance as  a  body,  when  the  swarming  season  is  ter- 
minated. Now,  admitting  that  their  sole  use,  is  the  im- 
pregnation of  the  young  queens,  that  issue  with  the 
swarms, — is  it  possible  for  them  to  appear  at  a  more 
appropriate  period,  or  leave  at  a  season  that  would  be 
better  for  the  prosperity  of  the  colony?  Since  they 
must  live  on  the  stores  gathered  by  the  workers,  they 
should  not  appear  before  the  time  of  actual  requirement ; 
and  when  their  services  can  be  dispensed  with,  they 
should  not  remain  a  day  to  consume  the  food  that  is 
gathered  with  so  much  toil  and  industry.  Man,  with 
all  his  wisdon,  could  not  better  this  wonderful  operation 
of  nature !  Had  I  the  direction  of  the  production  of 
flrones,  I  should  say,  "  let  them  appear  in  force  from  the 
20lh  of  May  to  the  1st  of  June" — precisely  the  time 
that  they  do  appear      On  the  first  week  in  July,  I  should 


bee-keeper's  manual.  53 

say  '  depart" — just  the  time  that  the  massacre  is  com- 
menced. On  the  6th  of  July,  I  discovered  the  first  at- 
tempt to  expel  the  drones,  this  season.  Thus,  nature 
has  ordained  this  matter;  and  blind  indeed,  must  he  be, 
who  can  resist  the  almost  self-evident  truth,  of  the  legi- 
timate uses  of  drones. 

"  But,"  say  the  cavillers,  "  why  should  a  thousand  or 
more  drones  be  brought  into  existence,  when  one  is  suf- 
ficient, according  to  this  theory." — It  is  a  true  adage, 
that  "  none  are  so  blind  as  those  who  won't  see."  Thus 
it  is,  in  the  present  case.  Now,  the  queen  cannot  pos- 
sibly become  fertile,  without  meeting  a  drone  on  the 
wing,  in  the  air.  This  is  her  nature,  and  she  may  be 
confined  with  thousands,  yet  it  is  utterly  impossible  for 
her,  to  be  fructified  by  their  presence.  Then,  since  she 
must  go  forth,  and  that  too,  in  the  regions  above,  far 
out  of  the  sight  of  man,  to  eflfect  her  object ;  she  must 
noi  go  in  vain. 

The  life  of  a  queen  is  too  valuable  to  be  jeopardized 
in  fruitless  sallyings,  subject  to  be  caught  by  the  fowls 
of  the  air,  or  to  mistake  her  domicil,  on  her  return,  and 
enter  another  and  perish.  A  young  swarm  is  solely  de- 
pendent on  the  safety  of  their  queen  ;  and  if  she  perish, 
ten  thousand  subjects  die  with  her. 

The  great  Creator  of  animate  nature  foresaw  all  this, 
in  his  infinite  wisdom,  and  wisely  created  so  many 
drones,  that  the  queen  could  not  well  fail,  to  come  with- 
in the  circle  of  their  flight,  soon  after  leaving  her  hive, 
and  thus  render  her  fertility  sure,  on  her  first  exit. 


54  miner's    AMERICAN 

DRONES  GO   FORTH  TO  MEET  THE  QUEEN. 

The  drones  have  received  a  command  from  the  mouth  of 
Him  who  created  them,  to  "  go  forth  to  meet  their  royal 
mistress;"  and  for  five  thousand  years,  this  mandate  has 
been  impHcitly  complied  with.  Time  may  roll  on,  yet 
these  drones,  faithful  to  the  Omnipotent  hand  that  gave 
them  instinct,  will  continue  to  take  their  aerial  flights, 
as  regularly  as  the  sun  rises  and  sets. 

Perhaps  the  reader  may  not  have  been  impressed  with 
the  circumstance  of  the  drones,  at  a  certain  hour  of 
the  day,  coming  forth  from  their  hives,  and  taking  their 
flight  heavenward !  This  is  a  singular  truth.  Gene- 
rally from  one  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  every  fair  day, 
a  loud  buzzing  noise  may  be  heard  among  the  bees.  A 
great  commotion  ensues,  and  one  is  often  mistaken,  sup- 
posing that  a  swarm  is  about  to  issue.  This  is  the  gen- 
eral egress  of  the  drones.  They  ascend  in  horizontal 
circles,  in  an  oblique  direction  ;  and  after  being  absent 
an  hour  or  more,  return  to  their  hives.  This  flight 
takes  place  daily;  and  since  the  drones  have  no  possible 
cause  for  leaving  the  apiary,  to  gather  food,  does  not 
their  periodical  flights,  in  this  manner,  show  conclusively, 
that  nature  has  bidden  them  to  go  forth  to  meet  the 
queen  ?  Now  mark  the  harmony  of  the  arrangement ! 
The  queens,  by  the  same  power  of  instinct,  leave  their 
hives  about  the  same  time  that  the  drones  take  their 
exit ;  or  generally,  a  short  period  before,  and  seldom  re- 
turn unimpregnated. 

Huber  says,  that  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  he  witness- 


BEE-KEEPERS  MANUAL.  55 

ed  a  queen  go  forth  ;  but  I  have  never  yet  seen  one 
sally  out  at  that  hour. 

DANGER  OF  THE  aUEEN  BEING  LOST,  DURING  HER 
EXCURSION. 

That  all  these  things  should  be  thus  made  to  harmon- 
ize, for  the  well-being  of  the  bee,  is  apparent.  How 
easy  a  thing  it  would  be,  for  a  queen  to  lose  her  way, 
on  her  return  to  her  hive,  if  she  had  to  go  forth  many 
times. 

In  her  flight,  every  object  that  presents  itself  is  new, 
save  what  may  have  been  noticed  by  her  on  the  day  of 
swarming.  She  sees  many  hives  of  the  same  color  and 
size,  and  it  is  only  by  the  most  astonishing  sagacity,  that 
she  is  enabled  to  escape  the  vicissitudes  of  a  single  flight ; 
and  were  she  compelled  to  go  out  daily,  for  any  consi- 
derable time,  not  one  family  in  ten  would  escape  de- 
struction ;  for  to  be  without  a  queen,  is  certain  ruin, 
when  no  eggs  or  larvee  exist  in  the  hive. 

HUISh's  VAGARIES  RELATIVE  TO  THE  USE  OF  DRONES. 

Huish  is  a  great  advocate  of  the  drones  being  for  the 
purpose  of  fecundating  the  eggs,  instead  of  the  queens. 
Hear  him : — "  If  by  any  accident  or  untoward  event,  a 
hive  be  deficient  in  drones,  the  fecundation  of  the  eggs 
of  the  queen  does  not  take  place,  and  consequently,  no 
swarms  are  produced." 

It  is  ptrange  that  Huish  should  make  such  a  declara- 
tion us  the  foregoing,  in  regard  to  this  subject.  Who 
does  not  know,  thai  tlie  etjcrs  are  fecundated  in  March 


56  MINER  S  AMERICAN 

and  April,  long  before  a  drone  exists  ?  It  makes  no  dif 
ference  at  all  with  swarming,  whether  drones  exist  oi 
not,  as  every  ordinary  bee-keeper  knows. 

Huish  also  says, — "  When  a  hive  swarms,  a  number 
of  drones  follow  the  emigrants,  in  the  proportion  of  the 
number  of  working  bees." 

In  regard  to  this  point,  it  is  true,  that  a  portion  of  the 
drones  in  the  hive  go  out  with  the  swarm ;  the  numbers 
varying,  according  to  the  number  of  drones  in  it — a 
mere  matter  of  chance.  They  go  with  the  swarms 
from  instinct,  so  as  to  divide  their  maintenance  more 
equally  among  the  colony. 

THE  CONFLICTING  OPINIONS  AND  THEORIES  OF  OTHER 
WRITERS  DISREGARDED. 

I  should  only  be  adding  mystery  to  the  subject,  were 
I  to  fill  my  pages  with  the  conflicting  theories  and  decla- 
rations of  Huish,  Huber,  Bevan,  Shirach,  De  Reaumer, 
Riems,  De  Bi-aw,  Swammei'dam,  Hunter,  Dunbar,  But- 
ler, Thorley,  Wildman,  Keys,  Bonner,  and  a  score  of 
other  foreign  writers  on  the  bee ;  and  I  think  I  study 
the  interest  of  the  bee-community,  for  whom  I  write,  by 
thus  doing. 

Dr.  Bevan 's  work  is  almost  entirely  made  up  of  the 
conflicting  views  and  theories  of  diff*erent  authors ;  and 
when  one  has  perused  it,  he  is  about  as  much  in  the 
dark,  on  many  important  points,  as  before  reading  it. 

It  is  my  aim  to  give  a  straightforward  treatise,  with- 
out vacillating  to  the  right  or  to  the  left,  to  follow  this 
or  that  author ;  but  to  unfold  the  truth  as  it  is,  and 


bee-keeper's  manual.  57 

which  I  have  de.iaonstrated,  from  personal  observations. 
I  cannot,  however,  suffer  the  fallacies  of  some  of  the 
above  authors  to  go  without  comment,  but  I  shall  be  as 
brief  with  them  as  possible. 

PARTICULAR  INSTANCES  OP  DRONES  BEING  ALLOWED  TO 
LIVE  THROUGH  THE  WINTER. 

Huish  further  says, — "  Huber  says,  that  he  has  seen 
drones  in  a  hive  in  January,  and  Mr.  Duncan  supposes, 
that  they  were  allowed  to  remain  in  the  hive,  on  account 
of  the  additional  heat  which  they  would  generate  in 
winter,  or  perhaps,  they  may  be  preserved  for  the  pur- 
pose of  pairing  a  new  queen.  Those  suppositions,  how- 
ever, of  Mr.  Duncan  have  not  a  tittle  of  truth  to  stand 
upon  ;  not  a  drone  was  ever  seen  in  a  hive  in  January." 

In  this  case,  Huber  is  right,  and  Huish  is  greatly 
mistaken. 

It  does  not  admit  of  a  question,  that  occasionally  a 
few  drones  are  allowed  to  winter  over,  in  some  hives. 
What  these  drones  are  thus  allowed  to  live  for,  is  a 
question  that  will  never  be  answered,  so  as  to  cover  the 
whole  ground.  It  is  not  for  the  additional  heat  that  Mr. 
Duncan  speaks  of,  because  their  numbers  are  so  small, 
that  such  a  thing  is  out  of  the  question.  A  hive  is 
never  seen  with  a/w/Z  complement  of  drones  in  the  win- 
ter. A  dozen  or  so,  is  the  most  that  I  ever  heard  of, 
and  four  is  the  most  that  I  ever  found  myself. 

Last  spring,  in  the  month  of  March,  I  saw  four  drones 
issue  from  one  of  my  hives. — It  is  true,  I  never  saw  any 
in  January ;  but  those  that  I  saw  in  March,  were  in  ex- 


58  miner's    AMERICAN 

istence  in  January,  and  if  I  had  driven  out  the  bees,  I 
should  have  seen  them,  of  course. 

The  reason  w^hy  drones  are  sometimes  left  is,  that  the 
family  is  without  a  queen,  or  that  the  condition  of  the 
family  is  such,  as  to  possibly  require  them  to  impregnate 
a  new  sovereign.  If  the  queen  is  not  in  a  healthy  and 
sound  condition,  the  drones,  or  a  few  of  them,  are  al- 
ways allowed  to  exist.  This  is  right — who  could  order 
better  ? 

In  case  of  the  death  of  the  queen,  how  important  are 
these  drones !  In  case  of  the  absence  of  a  queen  at  the 
time  of  the  general  massacre,  and  no  larvae  are  left  to 
replace  her,  the  drones  are  reserved  as  being  needful,  in 
case  of  the  bees  being  put  in  possession  of  a  new  queen, 
on  which  they  can  make  no  calculation  by  any  natural 
means;  yet  instinct  teaches  them  to  preserve  the  drones, 
and  trust  in  Providence  for  a  queen. 

It  may  be  set  down  as  a  fact,  that  when  drones  are 
found  long  after  the  general  extermination,  something 
is  wrong,  and  needs  the  attention  of  the  apiarian ;  but 
in  some  cases,  it  defies  the  knowledge  of  man,  to  con- 
ceive why  they  are  left.  In  the  case  in  which  I  saw 
the  four  drones,  mentioned  above,  the  family  was  in  the 
most  perfect  prosperity.  The  queen  was  very  fertile, 
and  I  cannot  say  why  the  drones  were  permitted  to 
winter  over,  unless  something  was  amiss  with  the  queen 
in  the  fall,  of  which  she  recovered  before  spring. 

For  the  purpose  of  impregnating  a  new  queen,  a  few 
drones  would  render  the  act  somewhat  precarious,  but 
I  presume  that  instinct  teaches  them  in  every  emergen- 


bee-keeper's  manual.  59 

cy,  to  so  act  that  the  end  will  be  effected,  for  which 
nature  designed  them. 

THE  OLD  QUEEN  ALWAYS  GOES  OFF  WITH  THE  FIRST 
SWARM. 

It  is  not  necessary,  that  the  drones  should  appear  in 
force,  until  the  second  swarms  issue ;  for  the  reason, 
that  the  old  queen  goes  off  with  the  first  swarm.  This 
is  another  point,  that  has  also  been  disputed ;  yet  it  is  a 
fact,  that  can  never  be  subverted.  This  is  a  circum- 
stance, that  may  well  excite  our  admiration. 

Nature  is  ever  careful  of  the  perpetuity  of  her  species 
of^e  animate  creation ;  and  in  the  case  of  the  bee,  she 
is  not  lacking  in  that  wonderful  chain  of  circumstances 
that  produces  one  harmonious  result. 

In  order  to  effect  this  object,  viz :  the  sallying  forth 
of  the  old  queens  with  the  first  swarms,  nature  implanted 
an  implacable  enmity  between  all  queens,  from  the  mo- 
ment of  their  existence ;  and  even  so  far,  as  to  force  the 
mother  to  destroy  her  own  progeny,  before  it  emerges 
from  the  cells. 

A  young  queen,  that  has  not  been  out  of  her  cell, 
more  than  five  minutes,  rushes  upon  her  sisters  in  roy- 
alty, and  wrests  them  from  their  tenements,  while  yet 
in  the  pupa  state,  but  for  the  restraint  held  over  her  by 
the  workers,  who  stand  in  the  defence  of  their  young 
sovereigns,  and  when  a  queen  approaches,  witji  deadly 
aim,  they  seize  her,  and  hold  her  a  prisoner.  This  nat- 
ural instinctive  hatred  of  rivalry  in  queens,  is  the  basis 
upon  which  the  rationale  of  swarming  rests. 


60  miner's   AMERICAN 

In  order  to  arrive  at  the  point,  that  I  had  in  view,  viz : 
to  illustrate  the  fact  of  the  old  queen  going  off  with  the 
first  swarm,  as  briefly  as  possible,  and  not  run  into  a 
chapter  on  swai^ming  at  this  place,  I  will  simply  state, 
why  the  old  queen  does  thus  leave  the  hive  with  a  pri- 
mary swarm. 

As  soon  as  the  young  queens'  cells  are  sealed,  or  a 
few  days  thereafter,  say  about  eight  or  nine  days  before 
the  development  of  the  oldest  among  them,  the  natural 
hatred  of  the  rivals,  that  she  has  produced,  or  at  least, 
deposited  the  eggs  in  the  royal  cells  for  their  production, 
is  so  great,  that  sooner  than  remain  to  encounter  them, 
she  quits  the  hive,  and  in  her  exit,  takes  a  portion  o^the 
family  with  her.  If  she  were  to  remain  in  the  hive  un- 
til one  or  more  of  the  young  queens  should  emerge  from 
the  cells,  she  would,  from  her  superior  strength  and  com- 
mand over  the  workers,  fall  upon  such  queens,  in  despite 
of  the  efforts  of  the  workers  to  prevent  it,  and  slay  them, 
without  the  least  compunction  or  mercy.  Nor  would 
she  stop  there — if  any  queens  yet  remained  in  the  em- 
bryo state,  she  would,  in  her  rage,  tear  off  the  seals  of 
their  cells,  and  drag  them  out,  as  if  they  were  the  dead- 
liest enemies  to  her  race.  Thus  would  there  be  no 
swarming,  since  the  old  queen  would  not  go  off,  and 
leave  the  family  without  a  sovereign,  and  she  will  spare 
none,  when  once  her  appetite  for  slaughter  has  been 
whetted.  There  is  much  of  interest  that  may  be  said 
on  the  general  circumstances  of  swarming,  which  I  shall 
endeavor  to  la}'  before  my  readers  hereafter. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  61 

drones  said  to  die  immediately  after  coition. 

A  remarkable  circumstance  is  said  to  occur  to  drones, 
in  their  amours  with  the  queen ;  which  is,  that  death 
ensues  immediately  after  coition !  Since  it  is  impossible 
that  man  should  ever  witness  the  act  of  connection  be- 
tween the  drones  and  queens,  it  is  a  very  difficult  question 
to  determine,  whether  the  drone  dies  immediately  or  not. 
However,  we  have  analogy,  it  is  said,  in  some  of  the 
insect  tribes,  to  corroborate  this  alleged  fact. 

THE  GENERAL  MASSACRE  OF  DRONES. 

TJie  general  or  usual  time  that  the  massacre  of  the 
drones  takes  place  is,  as  I  have  already  observed,  in  the 
month  of  July.  There  may,  however,  be  instances  of 
their  being  expelled  in  June,  say  the  last  of  the  month ; 
and  there  may  also  be  instances  of  their  being  allowed 
to  exist  until  August,  before  any  expulsion  takes  place. 
The  time  of  massacre  or  expulsion  is  earlier  or  later, 
according  to  the  latitude  of  the  location  of  the  apiary. 
For  instance,  the  expulsion  may  take  place  in  the  lati- 
tude of  the  city  of  New  York,  two  weeks  sooner  than 
in  the  latitude  of  Buffalo  or  Boston. 

Strange  as  it  may  appear,  the  manner  in  which  the 
extermination  of  drones  is  effected  by  the  workers,  is  a 
matter  of  contention  among  the  apiarians  and  naturalists 
of  Europe.  Some  assert  that  the  bees  use  their  stings, 
while  othei's  contend  that  the  drones  are  simply  disabled, 
and  then  cast  out  of  the  hives. 

Huish  says, — "  It  is  the  opinion  of  some  naturalists, 


62  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

that  the  bee  kills  the  drone  by  means  of  its  sting,  but  in 
the  many  hundred  times  that  we  have  witnessed  the 
destruction  of  drones,  we  never  yet  observed  that  the 
bee  made  use  of  its  sting." 

Huber  is  an  advocate  of  their  being  stung  to  death  ; 
he  says  : — "  On  the  4th  of  July,  we  saw  the  workers 
actually  massacre  the  males  in  six  swarms,  at  the  same 
hour,  and  with  the  same  peculiarities.  The  glass  table  was 
covered  with  bees  full  of  animation,  rushing  upon  the 
drones  as  they  came  from  the  bottom  of  the  hive ;  they 
seized  them  by  the  antennae,  the  limbs,  and  the  wings, 
and  after  having  dragged  them  about,  or,  so  to  speak, 
after  quartering  them,  they  killed  them  by  repeated  sting- 
ings  directed  between  the  rings  of  the  belly." 

The  truth  is,  that  both  the  way  of  Huish  and  also  that 
of  Huber,  is  practised  by  the  bees.  In  some  instances, 
I  have  noticed  that  scarcely  any  were  stung,  but  the 
bees  cut  the  cords  of  their  wings,  and  then  expelled  them 
from  the  hives.  Drones  that  have  been  treated  in  this 
manner,  may  be  seen  running  to  and  fro  upon  the 
ground,  every  now  and  then  making  a  fruitless  attempt 
to  rise  on  the  wing.  On  other  occasions,  when  the  pa- 
tience of  the  workers  has  become  exhausted,  they  seize 
the  drones,  and  curving  their  abdomen  in  close  contact 
with  their  bellies,  continue  to  make  their  deadly  thrusts, 
between  the  wings,  until  successfuL  In  this  case,  the 
drones  may  be  seen  running  around  the  hive,  upon  the 
stand,  carrying  the  workers  along  with  them,  which  never 
give  up  their  hold  until  their  object  is  effected.  The 
workers  do  seem  to  have  some  mercy  at  times,  for  long 


bee-kiIeper's  manual.  63 

and  enduring  is  their  patience  on  most  occasions,  in  en- 
deavoring to  drive  the  drones  away,  without  doing  them 
any  bodily  harm.  In  such  cases,  the  drones  quit  their 
usual  abode  and  take  refuge  in  other  hives,  where,  in 
turn,  they  meet  with  the  same  treatment ;  finding  every 
hive  too  hot  for  them,  they  return  to  their  original 
homes,  when  the  workers  say,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the 
term,  as  the  old  man  did  to  the  boy  who  was  in  one  of 
his  trees  stealing  apples. — The  old  man  did  not  wish  to 
injure  the  lad,  if  he  could  get  him  out  of  the  tree  by  the 
use  of  moderate  means,  so  he  threw  a  few  small  tufts  of 
gi'ass  at  him,  and  told  him  that  it  was  wrong  to  steal 
apples,  and  desired  him  to  come  down,  but  this,  as  the 
story  reads,  "  only  made  the  young  sauce-box  laugh." — 
"  Well,  well,"  said  the  old  man,  "  if  neither  gentle  words 
nor  tufts  of  gi*ass  will  do,  I'll  try  what  virtue  there  is  in 
stones,  6fC."  Now  the  position  of  these  drone-bees  is 
not  wholly  dissimilar  to  the  above  case.  The  workers 
wish  to  get  rid  of  them,  indeed,  must  get  rid  of  them. 
They  at  first  push  or  drive  them  off"  the  floor-board  by 
gentle  means ;  finding  gentle  means  ineffectual,  they  say, 
".let  us  try  what  virtue  there  is  in  stings." 

The  drones,  in  rushing  for  shelter  from  hive  to  hive, 
find  the  best  accommodation  in  those  hives  in  which 
recent  swarms  have  been  placed,  and  which  have  not  yet 
been  filled  with  combs.  In  such  hives,  they  can  enter  at 
evening  when  the  bees  are  clustered  above,  and  congre- 
gate on  the  floor,  or  bottom-board,  huddled  together  like 
a  flock  of  sheep,  not  daring  to  venture  up  into  the  hive. 
In  this  manner  many  nights  are  passed  during  the  heat 


64  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

of  the  conflict,  and  as  soon  as  day  dawns,  they  are  again 
driven  out  to  wander  about  from  hive  to  hive.  In  cases 
of  artificial  swarms  being  made,  in  which  the  queen  is 
not  developed,  the  bees  in  such  hives  give  the  drones  a 
welcome  reception ;  for  the  reason  that  they  are  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  their  prosperity.  I  had  a  number  of 
swarms  of  this  kind  this  season,  when  the  persecution 
of  the  drones  took  place,  and  on  raising  the  hives  in  the 
evening,  several  hundred  drones  were  found  on  the  bot- 
tom-board, as  before  stated ;  and  it  is  not  unfrequent, 
that  the  drones  perish  from  hunger  while  in  this  situa- 
tion, I  found  two  hundred  drones  dead  one  morning, 
in  one  of  my  hives,  in  which  an  artificial  swarm  had 
been  placed,  all  lying  precisely  as  they  were  the  previous 
^ening,  with  their  heads  towards  the  centre.  In  other 
hives  I  found  many  dead  drones  in  the  same  manner,  on 
different  occasions.  It  is  very  singular,  that  every  drone 
iiT  this  hive  should  perish  at  the  same  time,  but  such  is 
the  fact ;  yet  not  a  hair  of  their  bodies  had  been  dis- 
turbed by  the  workers.  When  I  saw  this  circumstance 
at  first,  I  was  led  to  -believe  that  some  unnatural  agency 
had  caused  their  death  ;  but  subsequently  finding  them 
dead  in  the  same  way  in  several  hives,  I  attributed  the 
cause  to  starvation.  It  was  natural  to  suppose,  that  this 
was  the  cause,  since  the  unremitting  warfare  made  on 
them  generally,  gave  them  no  opportunity  to  partake  of 
any  food ;  for  no  sooner  did  one  enter  a  hive,  than  he 
was  instantly  ejected ;  and  the  hives  in  wliich  I  found 
them  dead,  had  not  a  drop  of  surplus  honey,  owing  to 
the  unfavorable  weather  at,  and  before  the  period  of 


bee-keeper's  manual.  65 

their  persecutions.  Had  a  part  of  their  number  been 
dead, — some  dying,  and  others  Uvely,  I  should  not  con- 
sider it  as  a  singular  case ;  but  every  bee  was  dead,  and 
in  precisely  the  upright  sitting  posture,  in  which  they 
had  arranged  themselves  at  evening ! 

There  is,  in  the  circumstances  attending  the  destruction 
of  drones,  much  to  excite  our  curiosity  and  surprise-much 
to  reflect  on  pertaining  to  the  iaistinctive  agency  that  is 
brought  into  action  with  the  workers,  at  the  period  when 
further  swarming  is  known  to  them  not  to  take  place ; 
iind  the  intuition  that  produces  a  concert  of  action,  and 
steels  their  consciences  to  all  feelings  of  kindred  affec- 
tion in  their  merciless  ejectment  of  fellow  bees,  whose 
agency  has  been  no  less  important  to  the  welfare  of  the 
community,  than  that  of  the  executioners  themselves, — 
all  of  which  conspires  to  elicit  the  admiration  of  man, 
and  causes  him  to  exclaim,  "  verily  the  wisdom  of  nature 
is  past  finding  out !" 

One  or  two  points  more,  and  I  have  done  with  drones. 
It  has  been  frequently  asserted,  that  drones  have  been 
seen  to  effect  their  amours  with  the  queens  in  the  hive, 
or  in  tumblers  where  they  had  been  placed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  experimenting  with  them  ;  but  the  evidence  has 
never  been  adduced,  in  so  strong  a  shape,  as  to  be  en- 
titled to  credence.  One  thing  is  certain,  which  is,  that 
no  person  ever  confined  a  queen /rom  birth,  either  with 
or  without  drones,  that  proved  fertile.  This  has  often 
been  tried,  but  ]£>  queen  has  ever  been  productive,  until 
she  was  at  liberty  to  leave  the  hive,  consequently,  I  con- 
sider that  the  question  ought  to  be  forever  set  at  rest, 


G6  miner's    AMERICAN 

that  the  impregnation  of  the  queens  is  exterior  to  the 
hive,  and  of  course  while  on  the  wing. 

There  are  two  kinds  of  drones  that  may  sometimes 
be  seen.  I  refer  to  a  small  black  drone  that  occasion- 
ally appears,  differing  from  the  ordinary  drone,  only  in 
color  and  size.  The  difference  in  color  may  not,  in 
every  case,  be  very  perceptible ;  yet  they  are  generally 
of  a  darker  hue  than  the  larger  drones.  This  kind  of 
drone  is  supposed  to  be  bred  in  those  cells  that  immedi- 
ately connect  the  full-sized  drone  with  the  worker-cells. 
On  inspection,  it  will  generally  be  found,  that  a  tier  or 
two  of  cells  exist  between  the  drone  and  worker-cells, 
of  an  intermediate  size ;  and  the  queen  would  very  na- 
turally be  liable  to  deposit  drone  eggs  in  them  ;  and  in 
consequence  of  the  size  of  the  cell,  the  drone  has  not 
room  for  the  natural  expansions  of  his  body,  and  conse- 
quently is  of  less  size.. 

This  is  undoubtedly  the  true  solution  of  the  question ; 
for  it  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  a  drone-egg  may  be  put 
into  a  worker-cell,  by  any  apiarian,  having  an  observa- 
tory hive  for  experimental  purposes,  and  that  it  will  be 
nursed  by  the  bees  precisely  as  a  worker  is  treated,  and 
a  small  drone  will  be  the  issue.  On  the  other  hand,  a 
worker-egg  or  larva,  being  placed  in  a  drone-cell,  comes 
forth  an  ordinary  worker,  not  a  whit  the  larger  for  the 
capaciousness  of  its  tenement. 

It  has  been  said,  that  drones  caress  and  treat  the 
queen  of  the  hive  with  great  attenjifti  and  fondness; 
but  those  who  have  made  this  assertion,  are  generally 
the  advocates  of  the  impregnation  of  the  queen  by  the 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  67 

drones  within  the  hive,  and  consequently  find  it  con- 
venient to  make  out  as  plausible  a  story  as  the  case  will 
admit  of;  but  they  state,  what  is  not  a  fact.  If  the 
thousand  or  more  drones  of  a  hive,  each  felt  a  natural 
affection  for  the  queen,  she  would  be  so  harrassed,  that 
she  would  not  be  able  to  attend  to  her  natural  duties. 
The  drones  pay  not  the  least  regard  to  a  queen,  any 
more  than  to  a  worker.  They  remain  almost  motion- 
less in  the  centre  of  the  hive,  until  the  middle  of  the  day, 
when  instinct  teaches  them  to  depart,  as  I  have  already 
related.  This  is  a  wise  enactment  of  nature,  in  order 
to  preserve  harmony  within  the  hive.  But  no  sooner 
does  the  drone  ascend  in  his  atrial  flight,  than  the  in- 
stinct of  his  nature  is  developed,  and  he  then  manifests 
a  desire  to  meet  his  royal  mistress. 

It  is  with  reluctance  that  I  feel  myself  compelled  to 
draw  my  remarks  to  a  close,  on  this  subject,  which  I 
consider  one  of  the  deepest  interest  in  the  history  of  the 
bee,  to  make  room  for  other  matter  of  importance ;  and 
if  at  any  time  in  the  progress  of  this  work,  I  shall  fail 
to  meet  the  reader's  wishes,  in  the  description  of  any 
branch  of  my  subject,  on  the  score  of  general  details,  I 
trust  I  shall  be  excused,  since  the  subject,  in  all  its  vari- 
ous phases  and  bearings,  is  too  vast  for  an  ordinary 
volume  like  this 


CHAPTER    IV. 


EGGS— LARViE.— TIME  TO  DEVELOPE,  ETC. 

The  queen  commences  laying  as  soon  as  tne  genial 
warmth  of  spring  opens.  If  the  weather  be  very  mild, 
she  may  commence  as  early  as  February,  but  generally 
in  March  and  April.  She  does  not,  however,  com- 
mence her  "  great  laying,"  as  it  has  been  termed,  until 
about  the  first  of  May.  At  this  period,  she  deposits 
from  100  to  200  eggs  per  day,  and  as  it  takes  just  twenty 
days  for  a  worker  to  emerge  from  its  cell,  fully  devel- 
oped, reckoning  the  time  from  the  day  of  laying  the  egg, 
it  follows  that  all  eggs  laid  on  the  1st  of  May,  will  pro- 
duce perfect  bees  on  the  21st  of  May. 

For  a  period  of  about  ten  years,  my  bees  have  not 
generally  swarmed  before  the  first  week  in  June ;  and 
the  second  swarms  have  issued  about  the  12th  or  15th 
of  June ;  consequently,  those  bees  that  went  off  with 
second  swarms,  must  have  been  produced  from  eggs  de- 
posited about  the  20th  of  May,  since  a  bee  is  able  to 
leave  the  hive  on  the  first  or  second  day  of  its  leaving 
the  cell. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  G& 

drone-eggs when  laid. 

Dr.  Bevan  says,  "  the  laying  of  drone-eggs,  which  is 
called  the  great  laying,  usually  commences  at  the  end 
of  April,  or  the  beginning  of  May." 

The  great  laying  of  drone-eggs  is  always  after  the 
laying  of  worker-eggs,  consequently,  I  think  Dr.  Bevan 
has  put  the  laying  of  drone-eggs  too  early,  but  different 
climates  affect  the  laying  in  some  measure,  and  perhaps 
in  England  the  great  laying  takes  place  somewhat  ear- 
lier than  in  this  country.  The  bees,  of  course,  have  in 
most  cases  of  swarming,  been  in  existence  several  days, 
yet  in  cases  of  first  swarms,  not  over  a  week,  and  less 
time  in  after  swarms,  and  some  bees  go  off  the  day  of 
their  leaving  the  cells.  The  appearance  of  drones  takes 
place  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  and  in  some  instances, 
a  few  appear  by  the  15th  of  May;  but  I  have  never 
found  them  in  large  numbers,  before  about  the  general 
swarming  season,  viz :  the  first  week  in  June,  and  since 
it  requires  twenty-four  days  for  drones  to  mature  from 
the  egg,  the  great  laying  of  drone-eggs  must  take  place 
afcout  the  10th  of  May,  in  the  latitude  of  New  York. 

I  observed  that  the  laying  of  drone-eggs  always  takes 
place  after  the  laying  of  worker-eggs,  which  is  a  fact ; 
yet  when  the  laying  of  drone-eggs  is  over,  the  queen 
immediately  resumes  the  laying  of  worker-eggs,  and  at 
the  time  of  her  going  off  with  a  first  swarm,  she  is  ready 
to  proceed  with  the  laying  of  worker-eggs  for  some  days, 
when  she  again  commences  the  laying  of  drone-eggs ; 
but  not  so  extensively  as  at  first. 


70  miner's    AMERICAN 

ROYAL  CELLS  CONSTRUCTED  SIMULTANEOUS  WITH 
DRONE-EGG  LAYING. 

There  is  a  relation  existing  between  the  commence- 
ment of  laying  drone-eggs  and  the  construction  of  royal 
cells,  worthy  of  notice. 

When  the  queen  has  discharged  her  ovary  of  its  bur- 
den of  worker-eggs,  then  she  is  aware  that  she  will  com- 
mence the  laying  of  drone-eggs  ;  for,  be  it  known,  that 
the  two  kinds  of  eggs  are  germinated  in  perfectly  dis- 
tinct and  separate  bodies,  though  no  organic  separation 
exists  in  the  formation  of  the  ovary,  as  has  ever  yet  been 
discovered.  How  she  knows  the  fact,  that  her  worker- 
eggs  are  exhausted,  and  that  for  a  few  days,  she  can  pro- 
duce drone-eggs  only,  is  not  for  me  to  say ;  yet  she  does 
know  that  fact,  and  the  workers  know  it  also ;  for  no 
sooner  does  this  crisis  arise,  than  they  at  once  set  them- 
selves to  constructing  drone-cells ;  provided,  that  they 
be  not  already  constructed,  and  they  build  them  as  fast 
as  the  queen  requires  them,  and  stop  with  her  termina- 
tion of  laying  this  kind  of  egg. 

The  secret  relation  between  the  laying  of  drone-egg^, 
and  building  royal  cells  is  this.  The  royal  cells  are  al- 
ways commenced  on  the  occasion  of  drone  laying,  when 
they  are  commenced  at  all.  It  seems  to  be  a  signal  for 
the  workers  to  commence  this  work ;  yet,  if  the  hive- 
be  large,  and  only  partly  filled  with  combs,  not  a  royal 
cell  will  be  fabricated.  The  reason  of  this  is  evident, 
because  the  bees  well  know,  that  they  will  not  have  a 
bee  to  spare  in  swarming ;  for  all  their  increase  will  be 


bee-keeper's  manual.  71 

wanted  at  home  to  complete  the  labors  of  their  own  do- 
micile. The  bees  fully  understand  their  business  in  all 
its  various  branches.  No  hive  ever  yet  threw  off  a 
swarm  that  was  not  ficll  of  bees. 

I  say,  that  my  bees  generally  swarm  during  the  first 
week  in  June  ;  yet  I  have  had  numerous  swarms  issue 
in  May ;  and  on  one  occasion,  a  swarm  in  the  early 
part  of  April,  which  I  considered  a  very  remarkable 
circumstance. 

My  general  remarks  on  the  subject  of  swarming,  with 
its  attendant  circumstances,  must  be  reserved  for  an 
especial  chapter. 

THE    OPERATION    OF    LAYING    DESCRIBED. 

After  impregnation,  the  queen  begins  to  lay  in  about 
forty-eight  hours.  Huber  says  forty-six,  but  I  have 
found  it  to  be  full  forty-eight  in  most  cases,  in  which 
I  have  tested  the  question.  There  is  no  use  in  being  so 
very  particular  as  to  the  hotij-  and  minute.  No  man 
will  care  a  fig  whether  it  be  two  hours  sooner  or  later. 
A  description  of  the  operation  of  laying  is  correctly 
given  by  Mr.  Duncan,  an  English  apiarian. 

Mr.  D.  says  ; — "  In  the  operation  of  laying,  which  we 
have  a  thousand  times  witnessed,  the  queen  puts  her 
head  into  a  cell,  and  remains  in  that  position  a  second 
or  two,  as  if  to  ascertain  whether  it  is  in  a  fit  state  to 
receive  the  deposit.  She  then  withdraws  her  head, 
curves  her  body  downwards,  inserts  her  abdomen  into 
the  cell,  and  turns  half  round  on  herself;  having  kept 
this  position  for  a  few  seconds,  she  withdraws  her  body. 


72  miner's    AMERICAN 

having  in  the  meantime  laid  an  egg,  The  egg  itself, 
which  is  attached  to  the  bottom  of  the  cell,  by  a  gluti- 
nous matter,  with  which  it  is  imbued,  is  of  a  slender, 
oval  shape,  slightly  curved,  rather  more  pointed  in  the 
lower  end  than  in  the  other." 

TIME    THAT    EGGS    REMAIN    IN    THE    CELL. 

The  egg  remains  three  days  before  it  bursts  its  integu- 
ment, and  becomes  a  worm,  or  larta ;  that  is,  in  natural 
heat  of  from  60  tp  70  degrees  of  Fahrenheit,  and  in 
colder  circumstances  the  time  may  be  prolonged,  even 
to  a  perfect  suspension  of  vitality  for  a  long  period  ;  and 
then,  on  being  subjected  to  the  usual  heat,  the  develop- 
ment takes  place  in  the  natural  way. 

LARV-^ HOW    LONG    FED WHEN    SEALED    OVER,    ETC. 

After  the  hatching  of  the  eggs,  which  is  effected  solely 
by  the  natural  heat  of  the  bees  in  the  hive,  generated 
by  the  workers,  the  larvae  are  fed  from  four  to  six  days, 
according  to  the  heat  within  the  hive,  and  the  cells  are 
then  sealed  over  by  the  workers,  by  making  numerous 
rings  of  wax,  commencing  at  the  outside,  and  finishing 
at  the  centre.  When  the  larva3  ai-e  sealed  over,  they 
commence  weaving  around  themselves  a  cocoon,  or 
shroud,  which  requires  about  thirty-six  hours,  and  from 
this  period  until  their  perfect  development,  they  are  called 
pupcB,  nymphs,  or  chrysalis.  The  covering,  or  seals  of 
drone-cells  are  quite  convex,  resembling  a  half  pea  in 
rotundity.  The  convexity  of  worker-cells  is  much  less, 
— almost  flat ;  and  the  seals  of  honey-cells  are  concave  ; 
curving  inwardlv. 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  73 

PERIOD    OF    DEVELOPMENT,    ETC. 

The  period  of  development  of  the  different  classes  of 
bees  is  as  follows,  viz  : — 

Queens  from  the  egg,  16  days. 
Drones     "       "      "      24     " 
Workers  "       "      "      20     " 

The  formation  of  queen-cells,  as  1  have  stated,  takes 
place  on  the  occasion  of  the  great  laying  of  drone-eggs 
in  May ;  the  manner  of  the  construction  of  which  is 
pretty  well  defined  at  page  28.  The  construction  of 
these  cells  takes  place  about  the  20th  of  May,  and  con- 
sequently the  young  queens  are  ready  to  go  off  with 
swarms  in  the  early  part  of  June. 

NUMBER    OF    BEES    IN    A    HIVE. 

Various  are  the  statements  in  regard  to  the  ordinary 

number  of  bees  in  a  hive,  and  the  number  of  bees  that 

a  single  queen  usually  produces  in  a  single  season.     As 

regards  the  number  of  bees  in  a  hive,  it  depends  much  upon 

whether  it  be  a  large  or  small  hive,  and  whether  any 

swarms  have  issued  from  it.     Some  queens  are  much 

more  fertile  than  others,  as  is  the  case  with  the  female 

portion  of  all  animated  nature.     I  suppose  the  following 

statement  of  what  an  ordinary  queen  annually  produces, 

to  be  as  near  the  truth,  as  we  can  well  get  at : 

Bees  in  a  first  swarm,     ....  6,500. 

"     in  a  second    '^        ....  4,500. 

"     remaining  in  the  parent  hive,  8,000. 

"     produced  in  the  first  swarm,  6,000. 

25,000. 


74  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

In  the  foregoing  calculation,  I  have  made  an  allowance 
of  2,000  bees,  as  being  in  the  parent  hive,  on  the  opening 
of  spring ;  and  consequently,  10,000  is  the  number  I 
compute,  as  belonging  to  the  parent  hive,  after  the  issue 
of  the  second  swarm.  The  above  aggregate  of  25,000 
bees  from  one  queen  in  a  single  season  is  moderate. 
If  we  take  into  consideration  the  number  of  bees  pro- 
duced by  the  queen  in  the  second  swarm,  and  also  that 
of  the  queen  left  in  the  parent  hive,  both  of  which  are 
the  indirect  production  of  the  parent  queen,  through  her 
own  progeny,  we  should  then  swell  the  grand  total  to 
about  40,000  ;  allowing  the  said  two  queens  to  produce 
15,000! 

The  above  estimate  is  made  on  the  supposition  that 
two  swarms  are  sent  off,  and  the  old  queen  goes  with 
the  first,  as  she  ever  does. 

If  the  family  had  been  in  a  large  hive  in  which  iio 
swarming  had  taken  place,  the  result  would  have  been 
the  same  as  in  the  first  case  ;  for  the  reason,  that  the 
number  of  bees  sent  off  in  both  swarms,  viz; — 11,000, 
and  the  6,000  that  the  queen  produces  with  the  first 
swarm,  would  all  have  been  residents  of  the  original 
hive,  together  with  the  8,000  produced,  and  left  in  the 
parent  hive,  according  to  the  foregoing  estimate, 
making  in  all,  as  before  stated,  25,000.  If  no  swarms 
are  sent  off,  we  lose  the  15,000  bees  produced  by  the 
two  queens  in  charge  of  thent.  A  queen  possesses  the 
power  of  producing  a  certain  number  of  eggs  in  a 
season ;  and  whether  she  remain  in  the  parent  hive,  or 
sally  out  with  a  swarm,  it  ioes  not  affect  the  aggregate 


BEE-KEEPER  S  MANUAL.  75 

of  her  laying ;  provided,  that  she  has  room  in  which  to 
deposit  her  eggs. 

RELATIVE  PROPORTION  -OF  DRONES. 

The  relative  proportion  of  drones  and  workers  is 
about  one  to  twenty,  that  is,  for  a  family  of  workers 
amounting  to  8,000  the  ordinary  number  of  drones  is 
about  400.  Some  writers  state  the  number  of  drones 
in  a  hive  to  be  from  1,000  to  2,000 ;  but  they  are  beyond 
the  mark,  as  a  general  rule.  There  is  no  law  that 
governs  the  production  of  drones,  so  as  to  enable  the 
apiarian  to  make  any  calculation,  in  regard  to  their 
relative  proportion,  when  compared  with  the  number  of 
workers,  that  may  be  relied  on  in  all  cases.  Some  fami- 
lies may  have  a  thousand,  while  another,  equally  strong, 
may  have  but  500. 

Nature  does  not,  in  all  cases,  operate  without  a  loss, 
or  waste  of  the  animal  functions ;  for,  in  the  case  of  the 
laying  of  drone-eggs  by  the  old  queens,  after  they  have 
left  the  parent  hive  with  a  swarm,  we  find  that  brood 
entirely  useless,  coming  as  it  does  after  the  swarming 
season  is  past. 

The  old  queens  are  aware  of  the  uselessness  of  this 
drone-brood,  and  consequently,  the  larvae  are  drawn  out 
of  the  cells  and  cast  on  the  ground.  Why  queens  are 
thus  compelled  by  nature,  to  lay  a  brood  of  eggs,  that 
are  worse  than  useless,  some  one  must  answer,  more 
deeply  versed  in  the  natui-e  of  the  bee  than  I  am. 

It  may  be  said,  in  the  case  of  the  drone-brood  pro- 
duced by  queens  with  swarms,  that  since  a  swarm  some- 


76  MINER  S  AMERICAN 

times  sends  off  a  swarm,  that  in  such  a  case,  drones  are 
necessary ;  consequently,  nature  has  ordained,  that  a 
thousand  queens  shall  continue  to  produce  drones,  and 
then  cast  them  out  half  developed,  in  order  to  ensure 
safety  to  one  family  that  throws  off  a  swarm ;  for,  not 
more  than  one  swarm  in  a  thousand  does  cast  a  swarm 
the  same  season.  On  the  whole,  this  feature  of  the  case 
appears  reasonable ;  because  it  is  the  same  principle  of 
nature,  that  is  manifested  in  the  production  of  500  or 
1000  drones,  to  render  the  fertility  of  a  queen  sure, 
when  a  single  drone  would  be  sufficient,  if  that  drone 
could  be  made,  through  the  instinct  of  his  nature,  to  be 
on  hand,  when  occasions  should  demand  his  services. 

YOUNG  aUEENS  PRODUCE  FEW  OR  NO  DRONE-BROOD. 

In  the  case  of  a  swarm  sending  off  a  swarm  the  same 
season,  it  is  always  a  first  issue  that  contains  the  old 
queen  ;  and  it  is  she  that  produces  drone-brood;  since 
drones  in  such  a  case,  would  be  absolutely  necessary  to 
impregnate  the  virgin  queen.  But  with  young  queens,  the 
case  is  very  different,  and  they  produce  few  or  no  drones 
during  the  first  season  of  their  existence;  but  after  the 
first  season,  they  produce  the  regular  number. 

POSITION  OF  EGGS  OR  LARV^. 

The  position  of  eggs  and  larvae  in  weak  families, 
where  every  degree  of  heat  must  be  economically  hus- 
banded, is  worthy  of  remark.  In  well-peopled  hives, 
the  queen  deposits  her  eggs  in  such  locations  as  may 
be  free  from  honey  and   pollen,  without   any  regard   to 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  77 

the  locality,  since  the  numbers  of  bees  will  always  admit 
of  generating  the  proper  degree  of  heat ;  but  when  a 
few  workers  exist,  comparatively  speaking,  the  case  is 
widely  different.  I  have  often  noticed  this  circum- 
stance ;  but  a  particular  instance  of  this  nature  has 
very  recently  come  under  my  observation.  In  driving 
a  very  small  swarm  into  another  hive,  for  the  reason, 
that  there  were  not  bees  enough  to  winter  over  safely, 
I  found  in  cutting  out  the  combs,  a  laying  in  the  middle 
of  the  centre  comb,  about  as  large  as  the  top  of  a  tea- 
cup, and  about  as  circular.  In  the  centre  were  the 
nymphs  or  crj^salis  sealed  over  ;  and  on  the  outside  of 
these,  were  larvae  three  or  four  days  old ;  and  exterior 
to  these  were  larvae  just  bursting  their  shrouds  from  the 
egg ;  and  exterior  to  these  were  the  eggs  that  had  just 
been  deposited.  If  a  needle  had  been  run  through  the 
cells  of  the  aforesaid  nymphs,  larvae  and  eggs,  it  would 
have  passed  through  cells  on  the  opposite  side,  contain- 
ing nymphs,  larvae  and  eggs  of  precisely  the  same  age ! 
This  is  only  another  evidence  of  the  remarkable  instinct 
of  the  bee !  The  nymphs  requiring  more  heat  than 
larvae  three  or  four  days  old ;  and  the  larvae  of  this  age, 
requiring  more  heat  than  eggs,  how  wisely  does  the  bee 
arrange  her  broods  to  the  best  advantage !  In  this  hive,  in 
which  the  combs  were  built,  there  were  not  bees  enough 
to  allow  the  least  heat  to  be  wasted ;  and  when  a  cluster 
of  bees  is  huddled  together  on  one  side  of  a  comb,  the 
heat  produced  is  much  greater,  by  having  a  corres- 
ponding number  of  bees  clustered  directly  opposite. 
Could  human  ingenuity  devise  a  better  way  of  economy, 


78  miner's    AMERICAN 

in  the  expenditure  of  animal  heat,  in  the  development 
of  the  young  of  this  insect  ? 


CHAPTER    V 


DIVISION  OF  LABOR  OF  BEES. 

Huber's  theory  in  regard  to  the  division  of  labor  is, 
that  the  workers  are  divided  into  wax-workers,  or  those 
that  build  the  combs,  nursiiig  bees,  and  honey-gatherers  ; 
and  he  contended,  that  there  is  a  difference  in  the  or- 
ganic structure  of  these  different  classes,  so  as  to  render 
them  incapable  of  doing  anything  except  the  particular 
labor,  that  nature  designed  for  them ;  though  such  dif- 
ference in  the  organic  structui'e  is  not  visible  to  the 
naked  eye.  Huber  went  a  little  too  far  in  this  assump- 
tion, since  it  would  puzzle  all  his  adherents  to  explain, 
how  such  a  difference  in  structure  is  produced,  when 
they  all  come  from  the  same  kind  of  egg,  and  receive 
precisely  the  same  treatment,  throughout  their  whole 
development. 

But  it  is  true,  that  labor  in  a  family  of  bees  has  its 
divisions ; — there  are  wax-workers,  nursing  bees,  and 
gatherers ;  but  there  is  not  the  slightest  difference  in 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  79 

their  organic  structure.  Man  has  found,  that  in  exten- 
sive laboratories,  a  division  of  labor  is  highly  essential: 
thus,  in  the  manufacture  of  the  pin,  a  single  pin  passes 
through  many  hands  before  completion. 

The  builder  does  not  cause  his  layers  of  brick  to  bring 
them  to  the  place  of  use,  nor  to  compound  the  mortar 
in  which  they  are  laid.  He  finds  that  each  branch  of 
labor,  performed  by  persons  for  that  especial  business,  best 
tends  to  harmony  and  to  a  rapid  completion  of  the  edifice. 
The  bee,  in  this  respect,  is  not  behind  man,  in  its  know- 
ledge of  the  most  effectual  application  of  labor,  since  it 
receives  its  wisdom  from  a  source  that  knows  no  error. 
Man  has  studied,  and  found  this  truth  out  by  experience — 
the  bee  has  this  instinct  implanted  in  its  censorium  from 
the  day  of  its  birth. 

When  man  attempts  to  properly  define  the  beauty 
and  harmony  of  the  domestic  labors  of  the  bee,  and  its 
wonderful  instinctive  powers,  he  is  lost  in  a  labyrinth 
of  amazement ! 

I  have,  more  than  once,  been  inclined  to  throw  down 
my  pen,  overwhelmed  w^ith  the  magnitude  of  the  task 
before  me  ;  yet  I  trudge  along  slowly,  doing  but  faint 
justice  to  the  subject,  trusting  in  the  charity  of  my 
readers,  for  an  exoneration  of  having  failed  to  meet  the 
case  as  it  merits. 

DIVISION    OF    LABOR  PROVED. 

When  a  swarm  of  bees  commence  the  fabrication  of 
combs  in  a  new  hive,  a  certain  number  of  bees  com- 
mence the  building  of  them ;  and  another  portion  go 


80  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

forth  to  tlie  fields  to  gather  honey  and  farina ;  and  as 
soon  as  the  young  brood  require  being  fed,  a  certain 
number  take  charge  of  that  duty.  This  fact,  so  far  as 
it  relates  to  wax-workers,  and  honey-gatherers,  may  be 
proved  in  this  manner,  viz  ; — remove  a  hive  containing 
a  swarm  vigorously  at  work  making  combs,  to  a  short 
distance,  beyond  the  reach  of  its  tenants  on  returning 
from  the  fields,  and  mark  the  result.  In  a  few  minutes 
not  a  single  bee  will  be  seen  to  leave  the  hive,  after  such 
discharging  bees  have  left,  that  were  in  it  at  the  time  of 
its  removal.  Scarcely  a  bee  will  be  seen  to  leave  the 
hive  during  the  first  day  or  two  after  its  removal,  for  the 
wax-workers  are  patiently  awaiting  the  return  of  their 
comrades  that  bring  in  the  materials.  When  it  has  be- 
come evident  to  the  bees  that  their  comrades  are  lost, 
(they  have  no  idea  of  the  removal  of  their  tenement,) 
then  a  new  division  of  labor  takes  place,  and  the  gather- 
ing is  resumed  with  lessened  numbers.  I  have  wit- 
nessed the  above  case  often,  in  the  formation  of  artificial 
swarms  from  a  swarm  of  such  magnitude,  that  half  of 
its  members  could  be  safely  spared.  The  same  disor- 
ganization of  labor  is  found  in  the  new  hive  that  receives 
the  honey-gatherers  only,  as  they  return  from  the  fields ; 
and  after  a  day  has  past,  a  portion  of  the  bees  that  were 
gatherers  to  the  original  hive,  now  become  loax-ioorhers 
to  the  new  hive  that  is  placed  in  the  position  of  the  ori- 
ginal one,  thus  proving  that  all  workers  are  alike,  and 
equally  able  to  lend  a  hand,  at  gathering,  nursing,  or 
wax-working.  The  particulars  of  making  artificial 
swarms,  will  be  given  in  a  future  chapter. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  81 

pollen  and  propolis  gatherers,  etc. 

There  is  also  another  division  of  labor  in  gathering ; 
for  a  certain  number  of  bees  gather  pollen,  or  farina, 
which  is  the  same  thing,  for  the  food  of  the  larvae ; 
while  others  gather  honey  to  store  in  the  cells,  and  to  be 
used  in  the  fabrication  of  combs ;  and,  if  need  be, 
others  ga.theT  propolis,  the  wax  that  is  used  in  stopping 
up  crevices  and  holes  in  the  hive. 

BEES    GATHER    FROM    ONE    KIND    OF    FLOWER     ONLY 
DURING    THE    SAME    EXCURSION. 

Again,  a  division  of  labor  takes  place  in  gathering 
honey  from  different  kinds  of  flowers.  A  bee  that  com- 
mences on  the  blossoms  of  the  cherry-tree,  never  leaves 
that  kind  of  tree  for  any  other,  or  for  any  flower,  but 
continues  gathering  the  same  kind  of  honey.  So  it  is 
with  the  bee  that  commences  her  labors  on  the  apple  or 
pear-tree,  &c.  In  the  fields,  also,  the  same  flowers  are 
adhered  to  ;  and  the  bee  that  gathers  from  the  white 
clover,  does  not  alight  on  any  other  flower  during  that 
particular  excursion !  I  have  witnessed  this  singular 
fact,  when  bees  gathering  from  different  flowers  came 
under  immediate  observation,  and  almost  in  contact  with 
each  other  ;  yet  there  was  no  promiscuous  gathering  by 
them. 

SENTINELS. 

The  duty  of  guarding  the  hive  against  the  intrusion  of 
enemies,   is   another  feature  in  the  division  of  labor. 


82  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

Come  when  you  will  to  examine  a  family  of  bees,  you 
will  ever  find,  at  least,  one  or  more  sentinels  on  duty ; 
unless  it  be  in  cold  weather.  If  the  entrance  to  the 
hive  be  small,  but  a  few  bees  act  as  guards ;  but  there 
they  stand,  thrusting  out  their  antennae  towards  any  bee 
that  is  suspicious ;  and  let  a  stranger  approach,  and 
there  is  always  some  bee  on  the  qui  vive  to  arrest  its 
progress.  These  sentinels  are  as  regularly  relieved  as 
those  of  an  army  on  duty. 


THE  WONDERFUL  OPERATIONS    OF    VENTILATING   BEES 


Last,  not  least,  is  the  duty  of  those  bees,  that  in  close 
sultry  weatheij  ventilate  the  hive,  by  causing  a  current 
of  air  to  be  put  in  motion,  by  the  vibration  of  their 
wings.  It  has  often  been  a  matter  of  surprise  with  some 
people  how  bees  can  exist  in  hives  densely  populated, 
and  having  but  a  very  small  entrance,  that  often  appears 
to  be  entirely  closed  by  the  numerous  bees  around  it, 
when  man  finds  it  difficult  to  find  air  for  free  respiration, 
during  the  sultry  weather  of  summer ;  and  such  per- 
sons have  supposed  that  the  bee  requires  little  or  no  air 
to  successfully  prosecute  its  labors  within  the  hive.  If 
such  people  could  witness  the  indefatigable  labors  of  a 
large  portion  of  such  families  of  bees,  that  night  and  day 
toil  without  cessation,  to  renovate  and  purify  the  air 
within  their  hives,  their  minds  would  soon  be  changed, 
and  if  they  were  bee-keepers,  measures  would  at  once  be 
taken,  to  admit  a  little  of  the  pure  air  of  heaven,  that  is 
so  very  essential  to  their  welfare.  I  cannot  better  illus- 
trate this  subject  than  to  give  my  observations,  in  a  sin- 


bee-keeper's  manual,  83 

gle  case,  of  the  ventilation  of  a  hive  by  the  bees,  in  my 
own  apiary. 

Having  a  swarm  lodged  in  a  hive  that  I  felt  particu- 
larly anxious  should  prosecute  their  labors  speedily,  in 
consequence  of  its  being  an  ornamental  domicil,  and  it 
being  quite  late  in  the  season  when  the  swarm  was  put 
therein,  (22d  June,)  contrary  to  my  custom,  the 
weather  being  cold,  or  rather  not  warm,  for  the  season, 
I  let  the  hive  down  in  close  contact  with  the  stand,  only 
allowing  a  few  small  holes  for  the  egress  and  ingress  of 
the  bees,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  internal  heat  of  the 
hive.  The  weather  suddenly  changing  from  moderate 
to  extremely  hot,  the  bees  clustered  in  large  numbers  on 
the  outside  of  the  hive,  and  their  labors  seemed  almost 
suspended.  On  opening  the  door  to  the  hive,  that  ad- 
mitted a  full  view  of  all  the  inside,  through  a  pane  of 
glass,  the  bees  having  but  partially  filled  it  with  combs,  I 
there  had  a  fair  and  full  opportunity  to  witness  the 
manner  in  which  the  bees  renew  the  air  of  their  hives 
by  the  vibration  of  their  wings.  On  the  bottom-board 
of  the  hive  were  arrayed  files  of  bees  in  platoons,  as 
regularly  arranged  as  an  army  on  parade,  all  with  their 
heads  the  same  way,  and  keeping  up  a  constant  motion 
of  the  wings.  They  were  stationed  in  rows  from  front 
to  rear,  thus  giving  the  laboring  bees,  that  went  forth  to 
the  fields,  an  opportunity  to  pass  in  and  out  with  the 
lea§t  possible  inconvenience  ;  since  the  avenues  between 
the  rows  of  ventilating  bees  converged  to  a  focus  at 
the  rear  of  the  hive,  at  which  point  the  bees  had  built 
down  their  combs  near  to  the  bottom ;  and  hung  there 


84  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

in  a  cluster  around  their  works,  and  resting  on  the  bot- 
tom-board ;  and  at  this  point,  the  bees  took  their  depar- 
ture, when  leaving  for  the  fields,  first  running  along  the 
lanes,  or  avenues  aforesaid,  to  the  point  of  egress ;  and 
those  entering,  pursuing  the  same  pathway.  Being 
anxious  to  know  what  result  the  letting  in  of  a  plenty 
of  pure  air,  would  have  on  the  bees  engaged  in  venti- 
lating, I  raised  the  hive  on  all  sides,  three-eighths  of  an 
inch,  and  supported  it  by  small  blocks  at  each  corner. 
I  then  looked  into  the  hive,  through  the  glass  door,  and 
saw  after  a  minute  or  two,  the  bees  commence  leaving 
their  stations  by  degrees,  until  every  column  of  bees, 
engaged  in  renewing  the  air,  disappeared ! 


CH  AFTER    VI. 


BLACK  BEES. 

There  is  a  class  of  bees  denominated  "  black  bees," 
that  occasionally  appear,  and  which  have  caused  much 
speculation  among  apiarians — some  even  denying  that 
such  a  class  do  ever  exist.  That  such  black  bees  do 
sometimes  appear  is  beyond  all  question ;  yet  many 
years  may  pass  with  the  apiarian,  without  appearing  in 


bee-keeper's  manual.  85 

sufficient  numbers  to  be  observed.  They  are  of  the 
same  size  as  the  ordinary  woi'kers,  difTering  in  nothing 
relative  to  their  organic  structure,  that  can  be  perceived, 
the  only  difference  being  the  color,  which  is  a  jet  black. 
Huber  states  that  a  war  of  extermination  is  waged 
against  them,  and  that  they  meet  a  violent  death  in  the 
same  manner  that  drones  are  expelled  and  slain ;  but 
this  does  not  coincide  with  my  observations,  nor  with 
the  observations  of  any  other  apiarian,  as  far  as  my 
knowledge  extends. 

These  black  bees,  when  they  do  appear,  which  is  sel- 
dom, are  only  seen  in  the  summer  season,  and  then  in 
very  small  numbers.  They  do  not  appear  to  take  so 
active  a  part,  in  the  labors  of  the  family,  as  the  ordinary 
workers,  and  sometimes  they  seem  to  do  little  or  nothing. 
Where  they  come  from,  or  by  what  cause  they  become 
black,  has  never  been  shown.  Huber  thought  that  they 
came  forth  from  the  cells  black,  but  it  is  far  more  rea- 
sonable, to  suppose  them  to  become  black  from  age. 
We  know  that  the  very  young  bee,  is  of  a  light  grey 
color ;  and  a  few  days  exposure  to  the  atmosphere  turns 
its  color  to  a  darker  hue,  and  old  age  may  cause  some 
bees  to  become  entirely  black,  at  the  season  of  the  year 
when  such  bees  appear.  Man's  locks  turn  white  with 
age — some  much  more  than  others  ;  and  why  may  we 
not  suppose  that  age  will  also  change  some  bees  to  a  jet 
black,  since  we  positively  know,  that  time  does  gene- 
rallv  give  them,  in  all  cases,  a  darker  hue  ? 


CHAPTER    VII. 


POLLEN,  OR  BEE-BREAD. 

Every  bee-keeper  knows  what  bee-bread  is ;  yet  every 
bee-keeper  does  not  know  all  in  regard  to  this  substance, 
that  ought  to  be  known.  Bee-bread  is  the  pollen,  farina, 
or  dust  of  flowers,  that  is  gathered  by  the  workers  in 
the  baskets,  or  cavities  of  their  legs — the  yellow  sub- 
stance that  is  carried  into  the  hives  so  abundantly,  in 
the  spring  of  the  year.  Bee-bread  is  the  food  of  the 
larvae,  or  young  brood ;  and  the  most  abundant  gather- 
ing of  it  takes  place  in  the  spring,  when  the  breeding 
season  is  at  its  height.  But  this  commodity  is  stored 
up  at  all  seasons,  it  being  a  substance  that  is  not  in- 
jured by  age.  In  the  morning,  when  the  dew  is  on  the 
flowers,  the  bees  are  engaged  at  this  labor,  because  the 
dampness  of  the  farina  packs  better  upon  the  cavities  of 
of  their  legs,  and  also  that  at  this  period  of  the  day,  no 
honey  can  be  gathered.  Here  is  wisdom ! — Man  plans 
his  work  no  better.  The  bee  gathers  farina,  also  when 
the  honey  season  is  past,  and  when  it  is  not  wanted  for 
immediate  use.     The  wants  of  the  following  season  are 


*     bee-keeper's  manual.  87 

cared  for,  even  when  the  gatherers  are  extinct,  for  few 
live  to  use  the  following  season,  that  which  is  gathered 
the  season  preceding. 

BEE-BREAD  INJURIOUS  WHEN  STORED  IN  SURPLUS 
QUANTITIES. 

The  gathering  of  bee-bread  at  all  seasons,  though 
showing  forth  the  indefatigable  industry  of  the  bee,  is 
attended  sometimes,  with  serious  consequences  to  the 
general  prosperity  of  the  family.  It  is  in  this  way  : — 
Bees  being  ever  prone  to  labor,  will  sometimes  gather 
a  large  surplus  of  bee-bread,  taking  up  the  room  of  the 
hive  for  years,  when  there  is  no  possible  necessity  for  its 
use.  -The  cells  that,  ought  to  be  used  for  honey  and 
brood,  being  filled  with  this  substance,  lessen  the  gene- 
ral prosperity  of  the  bees,  as  a  matter  of  course ;  and  in 
consequence  of  this  superabundance  of  farina,  the  bees 
require  changing  from  old  to  new  hives,  about  every 
four  or  five  years,  even  if  no  other  cause  existed  for  a 
removal,  which  is  not  the  case. 

COLOR  OF  BEE-BREAD DIFFERENT  COLORS  KEPT  DISTINCT. 

Bee-bread  is  generally  yellow,  but  it  may  often  be 
seen  of  a  pale  reddish  hue,  and  at  other  times  of  a  slate 
color.  The  colors  of  this  substance,  as  generally  gath- 
ered, appear  to  be  about  the  same  throughout  the  world. 
No  change  takes  place  in  its  hue  after  being  gathered, 
but  it  is  found  of  these  colors  in  the  nectaries  of  flowers. 
A  singular  circumstance  in  the  packing  of  this  substance 
in,  the  cells,  is  worthy  of  notice.     Nc  two  colors  are  ever 


88  miner's    AMERICAN 

found  in  the  same  cell !  How  the  bees  are  enabled  to 
keep  each  color  separate  and  distinct,  is  beyond  our  pale 
of  knowledge ;  yet  it  is  but  in  keeping  with  their  gene- 
ral habits,  and  regulations  in  labor. 

HOW  FED  TO  LARV^. 

How  this  farina  or  bee-bread  is  fed  to  the  larvae  is 
another  mystery — that  is,  whether  it  be  given  dry,  and 
in  its  original  state,  or  whether  it  be  compounded  with 
other  substances  ?  No  man  can  ever  say  of  his  own 
knowledge,  from  ocular  demonstration,  that  a  combina- 
tion of  different  substances  does  actually  take  place; 
yet  collateral  evidence  does  exist,  showing  plainly  that 
water  is  used  in  preparing  it  for  use,  if  nothing  more. 
Water  and  honey  are  the  only  things  that  apiarians  have 
imagined  were  compounded  with  it. 

CELLS  ONLY  PARTLY  FILLED  WITH  POLLEN. 

Another  singular  circumstance  attends  the  packing 
of  bee-bread ;  it  is  this  : — The  cells  are  never  filled  be- 
yond about  two-thirds  of  their  depth !  The  remaining 
space  is  either  left  unoccupied,  or  it  is  filled  with  honey. 
.When  there  is  a  lack  of  room  to  store  honey,  these  bee- 
bread  cells  are  filled  with  that  substance.  Some  apia- 
rians have  supposed,  that  the  cells  are  but  partially  filled 
with  farina,  because  a  covering  of  honey  is  necessary  to 
protect  it  and  keep  it  in  good  condition.  This  does  not 
appear  to  be  the  case,  since  a  great  proportion  of  the 
combs  containing  farina,  are  generally  found  to  have  no 
such  covering  of  honey. 


bee-keepee's  manual.  89 

The  cause  is  probably  this : — the  bees  in  traversing 
the  combs,  require  a  foothold  convenient,  and  perhaps 
quite  necessary.  In  filling  the  cells  two- thirds,  or  per- 
haps, three-quarters  full,  the  bees  leave  a  footing; 
whereas,  if  every  cell  were  filled  to  its  fullest  capacity, 
of  farina  and  honey — the  honey-cells  being  sealed  over, 
the  bees  would  undoubtedly  find  difficulty  in  passing 
over  the  combs  with  the  requisite  facility. 


CHAPTER    VIII 


WATER  AND  ITS  USES. 

Writers  on  the  management  of  bees  have  hitherto 
given  no  elucidation  of  the  necessity  of  bees  having 
water  within  their  convenient  reach,  beyond  the  simple 
assertion,  that  they  either  should  have  water  placed 
daily  in  pans  near  the  apiary,  or  that  they  should  be 
situated  near  to  some  stream,  lake  or  river  of  fresh  wa- 
ter. What  the  effect  would  be  to  have  no  water  within 
the  ordinary'  range  of  their  flight,  has  never  been  shown ; 
perhaps  for  the  reason,  that  an  apiary  cannot  be  placed 
where  the  bees  cannot  find  fresh  water  in  some  place, 
within  the  range  of  their  flight,  unless  it  be  in  a  desert. 


90  MINERS    AMERICAN 

Even  the  wells  of  the  neighborhood  frequently  afford  all 
the  water  that  is  required,  from  the  drippings  of  the 
bucket,  or  from  the  troughs  that  often  stand  beside 
them. 

I  have  often  seen  bees  around  my  own  well,  in  great 
numbers,  extracting  the  moisture  from  the  outside  of  the 
bucket,  or  arranged  along  the  gently-sloping  sides  of  a 
trough,  that  I  had  placed  there  expressly  for  them.  Bees 
do  not  like  to  descend  the  vertical  sides  of  a  bucket,  or 
of  any  other  vessel  to  obtain  water  ;  because  there  is 
danger  of  falling  in  ;  but  a  sloping,  shallow  trough,  the 
sides  of  which  form  an  angle  of  from  30  to  45  degrees 
with  the  horizon,  suits  them  much  better. 

HOW    FURNISHED    TO    BEEd. 

Every  bee-keeper  should  either  afford  his  bees  a  sup- 
ply of  water  at  his  pump,  or  well,  or  place  a  shallow 
vessel  near  the  apiary,  filled  with  small  stones  about 
the  size  of  a  pigeon's  egg,  in  order  to  give  a  resting 
place  for  the  bees,  and  the  vessel  then  to  be  filled  with 
fresh  water  every  morning,  unless  there  be  a  stream  of 
fresh  water  near,  in  which  case,  both  modes  might  be 
dispensed  with.  A  tin  baking  pan,  about  an  inch  or 
more  deep,  is  very  suitable.  Should  no  stones  be  put 
into  the  pan,  many  bees  would  be  drowned.  I  have  even 
known  many  to  be  drowned,  in  cool  spring  weather,  when 
the  stones  in  the  pan  were  so  large,  as  to  admit  of  spaces 
or  surfaces  of  water  only  two  inches  across !  One 
would  suppose  that  so  small  a  space  as  this,  would  be 
overcome  by  the  bees  at  once  ;  and  when  losing  a  foot- 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  91 

hold,  and  falling  into  the  water,  they  would  paddle  across 
to  the  stones,  and  soon  take  wins,  asiain  ;  but  such  is  not 
the  case  in  cool  weather,  such  as  we  generally  have  from 
March  to  June.  In  vejy  warm  weather,  fewer  bees 
under  the  same  circumstances  would  perish  ;  yet  water 
is  so  benumbing  to  them,  at  almost  any  season,  that 
when  once  immersed  they  seldom  recover,  unless  as- 
sisted by  man,  in  placing  them  in  some  warm,  sunny 
place  to  dry. 

EXPERIMENTAL    EVIDENCE    OF    THE    USE    OF    WATER. 

I  Avill  now  relate  what  came  under  my  observa- 
tion, at  my  own  apiary  last  spring,  (1848.)  relative  to 
the  use  and  necessity  of  water  in  the  labors  of  the 
bees. 

Early  in  April  I  placed  a  tin-pan,  filled  with  small 
stones,  on  a  bench  near  my  hives.  This  pan  held 
about  a  pint  and  a  half  of  water,  when  filled  with  stones. 
Every  morning  I  filled  it  with  fresh  water — sometimes 
with  rain  water,  and  at  other  times  with  well  water,  as 
it  happened  to  be.  I  then  noted  the  daily  use  made  of 
this  water  by  the  bees.  I  had,  at  that  time,  but  fifteen 
hives  ;  yet  I  found  that  the  pan  did  not  hold  enough  for 
them,  by  once  filling  every  morning.  Some  days  it 
would  be  emptied  before  evening,  and  on  other  occa- 
sions, the  quantity  was  sufficient  for  them. 

SINGULAR    DISCOVERY    IN    REGARD    TO    THE    USE    OF 

WATER    ON    VERY    WINDY  AND    WET    DAYS. 

I 

I  particularly  noticed  a  verv  singular  circumstance 


92  miner's    AMERICAN 

in  regard  to  the  quantity  of  water  taken  on  very  windy 
days,  and  also  on  wet,  drizzly  days,  when  the  bees  could 
not  go  to  the  fields.  During  such  days  as  the  winds 
were  so  high,  that  the  bees  could  not  safely  go  abroad — 
and  we  had  a  few  such — the  bees  crowded  around,  and 
into  the  water  pan,  in  three-fold  the  number  they  did  in 
ordinary  mild,  pleasant  weather.  My  apiary  had  recently 
been  removed  to  a  high  and  exposed  situation,  v.  here  the 
winds  had  a  fair  sweep  ;  and  on  one  or  two  days  during 
the  month  of  April,  the  winds  blew  so  hard,  that  the 
hair  on  a  man's  head,  almost,  I  think  I  may  say,  re- 
quired to  be  held  on.  I  had  erected  a  board  fence  on 
the  most  exposed  sides  of  my  hives,  to  be  let  down, 
when  the  high  spring  winds  had  subsided ;  and  the 
water-pan  being  within  this  enclosure,  the  bees  could 
approach  that  without  feeling  the  effects  of  the  blast  that 
swept  past  them  without  the  yard. 

It  was  on  the  occasion  of  the  prevalence  of  such  high 
winds,  as  before  stated,  that  the  bees  finding  it  impossi- 
ble to  go  forth  to  the  fields,  without  being  in  danger  of 
being  dashed  to  the  ground,  that  they  turned  their  atten- 
tion to  the  use  of  water,  to  an  extent  far  beyond  what 
they  were  ordinarily  accustomed  to  use. 

THE    USE    THAT    BEES     MAKE    OF    WATER. 

•Here  is  a  question  to  be  solved,  viz  : — what  use  did 
the  bees  make  of  this  large  quantity  of  water  on  those 
windy  days  ?  One  would  suppose,  that  when  the  gene- 
ral labors  of  the  bees  were  suspended,  that  no  water  at 
all  would  be  required. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  93 

The  solution  of  this  question,  in  my  opinion,  is  this : 
Bees  are  wise  insects,  with  a  natural  instinct  that  goes 
far  ahead  of  the  brains  of  man,  in  many  cases.  I  mean 
to  say,  that  a  large  portion  of  mankind  do  not  possess 
the  genius  to  adapt  means  to  ends,  so  w^ell  as  the  little 
puny  honey-bee,  so  far  as  its  ramifications  of  domestic 
economy  extend.  This  being  the  case,  as  I  presume 
will  be  admitted,  by  all  persons  acquainted  with  their 
general  labors,  it  follow^s,  that  the  bee  studies  economy 
of  labor ;  and  when  the  fields  cannot  be  explored,  such 
labor  as  can  be  performed,  to  advance  the  general  pros- 
perity of  the  family,  is  undoubtedly  attended  to. 

The  agriculturist,  when  driven  from  the  fields  by  the 

storm,  says : — "  come  boys,  let  us  see  what  is  to  be  done 

-within  doors — our  potatoes  are  to  be  cut,  and  prepared 

for  planting ;  or  fodder  for  the  cattle  and  horses  should 

be  got  ready ;  the  straw  cut,"  &c. 

Now,  the  bee  acts  on  precisely  the  same  principle. 
Water  is  used  in  compounding  the  bee-bread,  and  fitting 
it  for  the  young  bees.  In  the  spring,  when  the  weather 
is  cool,  a  few  days'  consumption  can  safely  be  made  in 
advance,  and  it  is  thus  that  I  account  for  the  more 
abundant  use  of  water  on  such  occasions,  as  do  not  ad- 
mit of  the  usual  labors  of  the  family  being  performed. 

WATER  USED  IN  WET    WEATHER    ABUNDANTLY. 

Not  only  in  windy  weather,  but  also  in  rainy  weather, 
do  bees  make  use  of  a  more  abundant  supply  of  water 
than  usual.  I  have  noticed  almost  the  same  rush  to  the 
water-pan,  on  a  damp  day,  when  it  did  not  rain  enough 


94  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

to  keep  the  bees  confined  to  their  hives,  that  took  place 
on  a  windy  day  ;  even  when  every  plant  and  leaf  was 
studded  with  rain-drops.  I  was  somewhat  surprised, 
that  the  bees  should  take  the  water  from  the  pan,  when 
it  could  be  obtained  in  a  thousand  other  places  with  the 
same  facility.  The  same  reason  that  caused  the  greater 
use  of  water  in  windy  weather,  led  to  the  use  of  it  more 
abundantly  in  wet  weather ;  and  the  reason  why  the 
bees  preferred  the  pan  to  other  places,  in  obtaining  it  in 
wet  weather,  I  presume  is,  that  the  liability  to  get  wet 
IS  more  when  alighting  in  pi'omiscuous  places,  when 
everything  is  wet,  than  when  alighting  on  the  stones  in 
the  pan. 

DECREASE  AND  FINAL    TERMINATION    OF    THE     USE    OF 
WATER. 

The  use  of  the  water  from  the  pan  continued  through 
the  months  of  April,  May,  and  a  part  of  June,  when  a 
great  decrease  took  place  in  the  use  of  it ;  and  this  de- 
crease in  the  use  of  water  was  coeval  with  the  decrease 
in  the  production  of  larvcs.  Finally,  in  July  the  bees 
frequented  the  water-pan  so  little,  that  I  considered  it 
useless  to  fill  it  daily,  and  omitted  to  pay  any  further 
attention  to  it. 

That  the  bees  use  water  in  preparing  the  food,  (fa- 
rina, or  bee-bread,)  for  their  young,  is  apparent,  from 
the  fact,  that  when  breeding  declines,  the  use  of  water 
diminishes. 

Now,  from  the  foregoing  remarks,  it  appears  that 
water  is  a  mucb  more  important  article  in  the  economy 


bee-keeper's  manual.  95 

of  the  bee,  than  it  has  hitherto  been  considered  to  be  ; 
and  how  far  the  bees  are  benefitted  in  their  general 
prosperity,  when  they  have  an  easy  access  to  it  in  the 
spring,  is  impossible  to  truly  define ;  yet  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  are  greatly  benefitted  thereby.  The 
case  that  came  under  my  observation,  as  above  stated, 
shows  that  the  time  was  not  lost  when  too  windy  or  too 
wet  to  go  forth  to  the  fields ;  but  it  would  have  been 
lost,  had  there  been  no  water  placed,  especially  for  the 
use  of  the  bees,  in  close  proximity  to  the  apiary. 

A    CLOSE    FENCE    AROUND    THE    APIARY     NECESSARY 
IN    CERTAIN    CASES. 

It  is  clearly  shown  in  the  foregoing  remarks,  that 
where  the  apiary  is  placed  in  a  high  situation,  where  the 
winds  meet  with  nothing  to  break  their  force,  a  board 
fence  around  it  is  indispensable — not  too  near,  but  suf- 
ficiently so  to  break  the  force  of  the  winds.  Had  I  not 
had  such  a  protection,  the  bees  could  not  have  come  out 
for  water,  on  the  aforesaid  windy  days ;  therefore,  let 
every  bee-keeper,  having  a  lorge  apiary,  afford  his  bees 
a  pan  of  water  in  April,  May,  and  June  ;  and  those 
having  fewer  hives  should  do  the  same  ;  unless  the  bees 
can  get  water  in  the  immeaiate  vicinity. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


SALT— HOW   TO  BE  USED. 

Various  are  the  benefits  ascribed  to  the  use  of  salt, 
by  the  bee-keepers  of  our  country,  who  profess  to  have 
no  further  knowledge  of  bees,  than  that  which  has  been 
taught  them  from  tradition,  or  from  such  experience  as 
they  have  had  in  the  management  of  bees,  which 
amounts  to  letting  them  take  care  of  themselves,  and  if 
they  live — well — if  they  die — it  is  the  same.  This  is 
about  all  the  knowledge,  that  the  majority  of  the  bee- 
keepers of  the  world  over  possess. 

SALT    PUT    UNDER    THE    EDGES     OF    HIVES. 

Salt,  say  these  sapient  bee-keepers,  should  be  placed 
under  the  edges,  and  perhaps  under  the  whole  hive,  as  I 
have  seen  many  instances,  to  prevent  the  moths  enter- 
ing !  This  is  a  perfect  fallacy.  No  quantity  of  salt 
ever  yet  kept  a  moth  out  of  the  hive-  The  moth  is  a 
winged  insect,  and  enters  the  hive,  without  coming 
in  contact  with  this  salt,  even  if  there  were  a  peck  of  it 
there.  The  moth  alights  on  the  outside  of  the  hive, — 
runs  in  through  the  entrance,  on   the  upper  side  gene- 


BEE-KEEPER  S  MANUAL.  97 

rally,  and  turns  directly  upward,-  without  touching  the 
bottom-board  at  all.  When  the  worms  are  produced 
from  this  winged  moth,  they  creep  down  the  side  of 
the  hive,  and  search  for  a  hole  or  c»evice  in  which  to 
wind  up  in  a  cocoon,  from  which  a  winged  moth  is- 
sues in  a  few  days,  to  take  its  turn  at  entering  the  hive, 
if  it  can.  The  salt  placed  under  the  corners,  or  edges 
of  hives,  as  tradition  recommends,  from  time  unmemo- 
rial,  will  keep  the  worms  from  winding  up  in  a  cocoon, 
under  the  edges  of  the  hive,  where  this  salt  is  placed, 
but  the  worms  have  only  to  crawl  entirely  out  of  the 
hive,  and  in  most  cases,  they  will  find  a  convenient  crack 
or  nook  to  suit  their  purpose,  close  at  hand.  Hence,  it 
follows,  that  so  long  as  these  worms  can  find  any  place 
about  the  hive,  to  wind  up  in,  the  salt  placed  under  the 
hives  is  of  little  or  no  use,  since  a  moth  leaving  its 
cocoon  a  rod  from  the  hive,  is  just  as  able  to  gain  ad- 
mission, as  one  emerging  from  a  cocoon  directly  under 
the  hive  ;  for,  if  the  bees  are  not  strong  enough  in  num- 
bers, to  protect  themselves  in  the  one,  they  are  not 
in  the  other  case.  Even  if  a  place  cannot  be  found  to 
wind  up  in  above  ground,  these  worms  will  go  below  the 
surface  of  the  earth  for  this  purpose  ;  but  it  is  a  last  resort, 
or  forlorn  hope  for  them,  in  such  cases,  and  few  winged 
insects  are  produced  by  them  in  such  instances.  The  true 
policy  of  bee-keepers  is,  to  keep  everything  so  snug  and 
close  around  their  hives,  as  to  preclude  the  possibility  ol 
the  worms  finding  any  winding-up  place  ;  then  place 
salt  under  the  hives,  and  a  good  result  will  follow.  It 
is  a  very  difficult  thing  to  place  hives  in  such  a  position  . 


9fi  MINKR  S    AMERICAN 

that  no  winding-up  place  shall  be  afforded  to  moth- 
worms  ;  yet  it  can  be  effected,  and  I  will  hereafter  show 
how  it  can  be  done.  This  chapter  is  on  the  use  of  salt, 
and  I  cannot  inforrti  you  at  this  place,  but  I  will  do  so, 
when  I  come  to  a  subject  to  which  the  construction  of 
bee-stands,  &c.,  legitimately  belongs.  _ 

SALT    NECESSARY    FOR    BEES. 

The  question,  "  is  salt  necessary  for  bees  ?"  is  asked 
a  thousand  times  annually,  in  every  State  in  the 
Union.  That  is,  is  it  of  any  benefit  to  place  a  lump  of 
salt  within  their  reach? 

I  answer  it  is.  My  reasons  are  simply  these  :  Every 
thing  in  animate  nature,  that  seems  to  desire  the  taste  of 
salt,  it  is  beneficial  to.  The  cow  and  the  sheep  can 
hardly  do  without  it,  as  well  as  many  other  animals  ; 
and  it  seems  to  be  necessary,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree, 
to  all  animated  nature.  The  dung-hill  fowl  craves  it  to 
such  an  extent,  as  to  jeopardize  its  life  by  partaking  of 
too  much,  when  an  opportunity  occurs.  I  once  lost 
about  twenty  young  fowls,  in  consequence  of  emptying 
into  the  barn-yard  a  pork  barrel  which  contained  a  few 
quarts  of  salt ;  and  I  also  lost  a  favorite  pet  canary 
bird,  by  allowing  it  to  come  out  of  its  cage,  and  peck 
the  salt  standing  on  the  dinner- table.  But  bees  will  not 
hurt  themselves  by  the  use  of  salt.  A  lump  placed  near 
the  hives,  under  cover,  will  do  no  harm,  and  since  the 
bees  will  occasionally  partake  of  it,  we  should  judge, 
that  it  is  best  to  give  it  to  them. 

I  do  not  consider  it  of  much  consequence,  whether 


bee-keeper's  manual.  99 

salt  is  given  to  bees  or  not.  I  have  stated  my  own 
views  on  the  subject,  and  leave  the  matter  to  the  option 
of  the  reader,  or  bee-keeper,  to  use  it,  if  he  pleases. 


CHAPTER    X. 


PROPOLIS. 

Here  again,  we  broach  a  disputed  subject,  viz ; — 
whether  propolis  is  a  natural  or  a  manufactured  sub- 
stance ?  It  makes  no  difference  to  us,  in  the  prosperity 
of  our  bees,  to  know  whether  it  is  the  one  or  the  other  ; 
yet  we  all  have  an  inkling  of  Yankee  inquisitiveness  to 
know  more  than  is  absolutely  necessary  of  every  sub- 
ject in  which  we  feel  an  interest ;  and  methinks  I  hear 
some  curious  "Jonathan"  exclaim — "I  wish  I  knew 
what  it's  made  of!"  Well,  perhaps  you  can  guess.  If 
you  can,  you  can  do  what  has  never  yet  been  done. 

But  it  may  be  well  to  inform  the  reader,  what  sub- 
stance is  meant  by  the  term  propolis.  Propolis  is  the 
glutinous  substance,  that  is  used  by  bees  to  fill  all  cracks 
and  crevices  about  the  hive.  It  is  much  darker  than 
wax,  the  substance  that  the  combs  are  constructed  of, 
and  it  is  of  a  more  adhesive,  tenacious  nature.  The 
quantity  that  a  family  of  bees  sometimes  produce  is 
astonishing. 


100  miner's    AMERICAN 

I  have  some  singular  and  interesting  rennarks  to  make, 
on  the  use  of  this  substance  in  particular  cases,  that 
came  under  my  own  observation,  which  will  come  in 
under  the  head  of  the  "instinct"  or  "sagacity"  of  bees. 

huber's  opinion  on  propolis. 

Huber  considered  propolis  to  be  a  positive  genuine 
production  of  nature,  and  not  manufactured,  but  col- 
lected by  the  bees  from  the  leaves  and  branches  of  cer- 
tain shrubs  and  trees,  the  principal  one  of  which,  some 
apiarians  consider  to  be  the  tacamabac. 

Huber's  opinion  on  this  subject  does  not,  by  any 
means,  set  the  question  at  rest.  Neither  he  nor  any 
other  person,  it  is  probable,  ever  saw  the  bees  in  the  act 
of  gathering  this  substance ;  nor  even  when  gathered  by 
them,  on  their  return  to  the  hives  to  deposit  their  bur- 
dens. The  first  appearance  of  this  substance  is  at  the 
places  where  it  is  used,  and  since  we  never  see  the  sub- 
stance gathered,  and  know  of  no  shrub,  plant  or  tree, 
that  exudes  any  precisely  such  adhesive  material,  we 
have  no  positive  proof  that  it  is  a  natural  substance ; 
still,  it  seems  that  it  ought  to  be  gathered  from  shrubs 
or  trees,  since  so  many  trees  do  send  out  an  exudation 
of  analogous  features ;  but  if  obtained  from  trees,  why 
do  we  not  witness  the  bees  returning  loaded  with  it,  as 
they  do  with  pollen  ?  The  fact  that  we  do  not  see  the 
bees  thus  returning  loaded  with  it,  almost  sets  the  ques- 
tion at  rest,  on  the  score  of  its  being  a  natural  sub- 
stance. 

According  to  Huber,  the  bees  have  been  observed  to 


bee-keeper's  manual.  101 

draw  out  long  threads  of  this  viscous  substance  from  the 
exudations  of  trees,  and  to  lodge  them  in  the  cavities  of 
their  legs,  and  as  soon  as  one  bee  had  completed  its  load, 
another  bee  was  very  conveniently  at  hand  to  continue 
the  same  process,  until  a  sufficient  quantity  had  been 
obtained.  They  then  began  to  knead  and  work  it  like 
an  Irish  laborer  compounding  a  heap  of  mortar,  and 
when  in  a  proper  state  of  attenuation,  they  proceeded 
to  line  and  solder  their  cells.  By  the  way — lining  and 
soldering  cells  with  propolis,  is  not  a  branch  of  labor  be- 
longing to  the  architecture  of  the  bee  at  all.  Cells  are 
made  perfect  with  wax  alone,  and  Huber  has  here  made 
an  assertion  that  proves  him  not  to  be  entitled  to  what 
has  been  awarded  to  him,  viz :  the  reputation  of  being 
an  accurate  apiarian. 

PROPOLIS  AN  ELABORATED  SUBSTANCE. 

It  is  probable,  however,  that  propolis  is  an  elaborated 
substance — to  say  that  it  is  positively  so,  would  be  pre- 
sumption ;  for  it  is  barely  a  possible  thing,  to  discover 
the  bees  in  the  act  of  producing  it,  even  admitting  that 
they  do  make  it ;  so  impenetrable  to  the  eyes  of  man  is 
much  of  their  labors,  when  clustered  in  darkness. 

Some  apiarians  consider  it  an  elaborated  substance, 
of  the  same  nature  as  wax — even  wax  itself,  but  a  little 
more  colored;  yet  this  hypothesis  cannot  be  correct, 
since  wax  and  propolis  are  so  different  in  tenacity  and 
color,  that  they  cannot  be  one  and  the  same  thing. 
If  it  be  elaborated,  and  of  a  separate  and  distinct 
nature,   then    arise   difficulties   as   to   the   modus   ope- 


102  miner's    AMERICAN 

randi  by  which  it  is  produced;  and  here  the  ques- 
tion must  forever  rest.  The  bees  produce  it  when  it  is 
required,  but  where  they  obtain  it,  or  how  they  make  it, 
must  be  a  secret  not  for  man  to  unfold,  Huber's  asser- 
tion to  the  contrary,  notwithstanding. 

It  has  been  asserted  by  apiarians  of  considerable  dis- 
tinction, that  propolis  is  used  in  laying  the  foundation 
of  combs;  but  this  assertion  is  at  variance  with  my  ex- 
perience. The  first  rudiments  of  new-made  combs 
have  come  under  my  observation  so  many  times — even 
the  very  first  beginning  of  constructing  combs,  up  to 
every  stage  of  their  prosecution,  that  what  my  own  eyes 
have  so  often  beheld,  cannot  be  controverted  by  the 
statements  of  all  the  apiarians  of  Europe,  should  they 
declare  that  propolis  is  used  to  lay  the  foundation  of 
cells.  I  have  ever  found  the  first  rudiments  of  cells,  to 
be  composed  oiwax,  the  same  substance  that  the  entire 
combs  and  cells  are  composed  of — not  the  slightest  dif- 
ference in  construction  and  color,  could  I  ever  discover. 


CHAP!  ER    XI. 


WAX. 

,  Wax  is  the  substance  of  which  the  bees  construct 
their  combs.  This  is  not  an  elementary  or  natural  sub- 
stance; but  it  is  produced  by  elaboration.  The  most 
universally-acknowledged  theory  of  the  production  of 
wax  is,  that  it  is  an  exudation  from  the  abdomen  of  the 
bee,  through  the  openings  of  the  scaly  rings  which  com- 
pose that  portion  of  the  honey-bee,  and  that  honey  is 
the  only  original  substance  from  which  it  emanates. 
This  is  truly  a  wonderful  theory,  and  without  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  the  economy  of  the  bee,  relative  to  comb- 
making  in  particular,  one  might  be  justified  in  casting 
ridicule  upon  it ;  but  when  we  take  into  consideration 
all  the  circumstances  attending  their  labors,  in  this  de- 
partment of  their  duties,  we  find  abundant  evidence  that 
honey  is  the  original  substance  from  which  wax  is  pro- 
duced, and  that  its  elaboration  takes  place  within  the 
bee,  coming  forth  in  strings  of  pearly  whiteness. 

HONEY  AND  POLLEN  THE  ONLY  SUBSTANCE  THAT  BEES 
GATHER. 

The  only  material  that-  bees  are  known  to  gather  is 


104  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

honey  and  pollen.  No  other  substance  was  ever  seen 
to  be  brought  in  by  them  ;  and  the  consequence  is,  that 
wax  is  either  made  of  one  or  the  other  of  these  two  sub- 
stances. There  is  no  mistake  on  this  point.  Now,  let 
us  consider  what  ground  we  have  for  supposing  that 
wax  is  formed  from  pollen  or  bee-bread.  Firstly  :  pol- 
len is  only  known  to  be  placed  in  the  cavities  of  bees' 
legs — not  taken  into  the  stomach  of  the  bee,  in  its  ori- 
ginal state  at  all.  Secondly  :  pollen  is  known  to  be  the 
food  of  the  larvae,  and  the  manner  of  gathering  this  arti- 
cle shows  conclusively  to  most  apiarians,  that  this  is 
its  sole  use. 

APIARIANS  CONTEND  THAT  WAX   IS  MADE  OF  POLLEN. 

There  are  a  few  apiarians  who  contend  that  wax  is 
elaborated  from  pollen ;  yet  after  a  careful  perusal  of 
their  arguments,  I  do  not  consider  that  the  evidence 
adduced  by  them  is  of  such  a  character  as  to  substanti- 
ate their  theory,  by  any  means. 

Pollen  is  gathered  in  the  months  of  April,  May  and 
June,  in  the  largest  quantities.  At  this  season  breeding 
is  at  its  height,  and  consequently  more  of  this  substance 
is  required.  In  some  hives,  during  these  months,  comb- 
making  is  carried  on  extensively;  for  instance,  when 
the  bees  commence  labors  in  the  supers  or  chambers  of 
their  hives,  or  in  cases  in  which  the  whole  interior  of 
their  permanent  domicil  is  not  yet  filled  with  combs  ;  but 
in  no  instance  did  I  ever  know  of  a  family  of  bees  gath- 
ering a  particle  more  pollen  on  account  of  such  comb- 


bee-keeper's  manual.  105 

building,  or  working  in  wax  being  carried  on,  and  I 
have  given  the  subject  my  most  faithful  attention. 

I  now  affirm,  that  a  hive  well  filled  with  combs  and 
bees,  having  no  extra  room  for  wax-working,  may  be 
placed  along  side  of  a  hive,  having  the  same  number  of 
bees,  but  the  hive  only  half  filled  with  combs,  and  the 
pollen  gathered  by  the  bees  of  the  hive  that  is  filled  with 
combs,  shall  even  exceed  the  quantity  that  is  gathered  by 
the  bees  of  the  other  hive,  which  shall  be  vigorously 
working  in  wax  in  filling  their  domicil  with  the  usual 
combs.  Now,  if  pollen  were  the  constituent  principle 
of  wax,  the  case  would  be  reversed,  and  more  pollen 
would  be  gathered  in  the  hive  but  partially  filled  with 
combs,  than  in  the  full  one. 

POLLEN  ADMITTED  TO  BE  A  COMPONENT  PART  OP  ORDINARY 
BEES-WAX. 

Again,  pollen  being  a  dryer  substance  than  wax,  and 
containing  but  few  adhesive  properties  as  it  is  brought 
into  the  hive;  and  the  color  of  wax  always  being  white, 
while  pollen  is  of  various  hues,  seems  to  put  the  question 
at  rest,  proving  that  wax  must  be  made  from  some 
other  substance.  It  is  true,  however,  that  pollen  forms 
a  part  of  wax ;  when  the  combs  are  immersed  in  boiling 
water  for  the  purpose  of  extracting  it,  the  pollen  then 
gives  it  its  yellow  hue ;  but  ordinary  bees-wax  is  quite 
a  different  substance  from  that  which  is  used  to  build 
combs,  and  the  difTerence  arises  from  the  fact  that  pol- 
len composes  a  large  proportion  of  this  latter  substances, 
when  prepared  for  market ;  whereas,  the  original  sub- 
5* 


106  miner's    AMERICAN 

Stance  used  in  comb  building,  is  wax  in  its  purity ;  and 
this  original  wax  is  much  superior  to  ordinary  bees-wax, 
for  the  purposes  for  which  this  latter  substance  is  used. 
Combs,  when  first  built,  will  melt  down  to  pure  wax, 
without  any  waste  from  impure  substances,  and  it  is 
much  whiter  and  better  in  every  respect,  than  ordinary 
wax  sold  in  the  market. 

BEES,  WHEN  SWARMING,  GO  LADEN  WITH  HONEY. 

When  a  swarm  of  bees  issue  from  a  hive,  it  is  a  well- 
known  fact,  that  they  carry  with  them  as  much  honey 
as  their  honey  vesicles  or  bags  will  contain.  I  have 
often  known  the  boxes  in  the  chambers  of  my  hives  to 
be  emptied  of  their  contents,  during  the  night  previous 
to  the  issuing  of  swarms  from  the  same  hives.  When 
this  circumstance  is  noticed  in  the  morning,  viz :  the 
emptying  of  the  cells  of  the  supers  or  boxes  in  the  cham- 
bers suddenly,  it  is  a  sure  sign  that  a  swarm  will  go  off 
on  that  day,  if  the  weather  continues  favorable ;  yet  it 
is  not  an  easy  matter  to  make  such  a  discovery,  since 
the  bees  remain  closely  packed  in  the  chambers,  up  to 
the  very  moment  of  sallying  forth. 

The  object  of  the  bees  in  thus  going  forth  laden  with 
honey  is,  to  have  wherewith  to  sustain  life  for  several 
days,  and  thus  be  prepared  to  withstand  any  unfavorable 
change  of  weather  that  might  intervene  before  a  supply 
of  provisions  could  be  secured.  Like  the  traveller  who 
starts  on  a  journey  across  some  desert  waste,  not  only 
taking  provisions  for  the  journey,  but  also  taking  a  sup- 
ply to  provide  against  any  reasonable  contingency  that 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  107 

may  retard  his  progress  to  the  land  of  plenty  whither  he 
is  bound. 

A  FEW  BEES  JOIN  THE  SWARM  WITH  PELLETS  OP  FARINA. 

When  the  swarms  thus  issuing  from  their  tenements 
are  hived,  perhaps  a  dozen  or  more  bees  may  be  among 
each  emigrating  family  that  carry  with  them  from  the 
old  hives,  pellets  of  farina.  That  there  are  any  bees 
among  tliem  with  such  pellets,  is  a  matter  of  chance 
merely ;  for  it  often  does  happen,  that  not  a  solitary  bee 
thus  laden  goes  off  with  the  swarm. 

NO  POLLEN  GATHERED  THE  FIRST  DAY  OR  TWO  AFTER 
SWARMING. 

Now,  the  bees,  in  most  cases,  commence  comb-build- 
ing within  an  hour  after  being  settled  in  their  new  home, 
and  during  the  first  day,  at  least,  no  pollen  is  brought 
in ;  still,  if  the  bees  be  dislodged  after  twenty-four  hours, 
large  sheets  of  new  combs  will  be  found  constructed. 
The  question  then  is,  what  do  the  bees  make  these  new 
combs  of?  It  cannot  be  pollen,  for  the  quantity  of  that 
substance  carried  along  with  the  issue  of  the  swarm, 
would  not  construct  a  half-dozen  cells  at  most,  and 
more  likely  not  a  single  cell.  Nothing  except  honey  is 
brought  into  the  hive  during  the  first  day  or  two ;  still, 
the  comb-making  goes  on  the  most  rapidly  from  the  be- 
ginning. It  follows,  of  course*  that  honey  is  the  elemen- 
tary principle  of  wax. 

CHEMICAL  CHANGE  OF  HONEY  TO  WAX. 

The  chemical  change  that  honey  undergoes  in  the 


108  miner's    AMERICAN 

stomach  of  the  bee  produces  it  in  its  proper  state  for 
working.  I  say  che?mcal  change,  for  the  reason  that  the 
honey  being  probably  combined  with  some  other  fluid 
natural  to  the  body  of  the  bee,  and  both  substances  ex- 
posed to  a  gentle  heat,  produce  virtually  and  truly  a 
chemical  change.  Nor  is  it  in  the  power  of  the  bee  to 
stop  this  chemical  change,  if  the  honey  remain  in  the 
vesicle  over  a  certain  length  of  time,  say  over  four  or 
six  hours.  No  person,  to  my  knowledge,  has  ever  be- 
fore ventured  to  make  this  declaration ;  yet,  if  we  look 
properly  into  this  subject,  we  are  forced  to  this  conclusion. 
How  often  have  bees  commenced  the  construction  of 
combs  upon  the  branch  of  the  tree  where  they  clustered 
on  swarming,  on  occasions  when  they  have  been  neg- 
lected by  their  owner,  or  have  not  been  discovered  by 
him  !  The  bees  certainly  must  know  that  they  could 
not  exist  in  such  situations  long,  and  it  would  be  con- 
trary to  their  well-known  habits  in  the  economy  of  labor, 
and  their  wonderful  instinctive  wisdom,  to  build  combs 
where  they  could  be  of  no  use,  if  they  could  avoid  so 
doing. 

I  do  not  say  that  the  bees  cannot  possibly  avoid  build- 
ing combs  under  such  circumstances ;  yet  I  say  this  ; 
that  if  the  honey-bee  fills  its  honey-bag  with  honey,  and 
finds  no  place  in  which  to  store  it  within  a  certain  time, 
under  twelve  hours  at  most,  the  honey  thus  placed  in  the 
vesicle  of  the  bee,  undergoes  a  chemical  change,  over 
which  the  bee  has  no  control ; — that  the  new  chemical 
substance,  which  is  wax,  exudes  through  the  scales  of 
the  abdomen,  that  lap  over  each  other  like  the  scales  of 


bee-keeper's  manual.  109 

a  fish,  and  is  taken  therefrom  by  the  bee,  in  threads  or 
strings,  and  at  once  made  into  combs,  or  it  is  cast  away. 
That  such  exudation  is  ever  cast  away  by  the  bees,  we 
have  no  evidence ;  yet  they  can  cast  it  away  if  they 
please,  consequently,  I  cannot  say  that  the  bees  cannot 
avoid  making  combs  when  their  honey-vesicles  have 
been  filled.  There  are  instances  in  which  bees  are 
known  to  remain  twenty-four  hours  in  a  new  hive,  with- 
out working  at  all  in  wax  ;  but  in  such  cases,  it  is  pro- 
bable that  they  were  not  provided  with  any  more  honey 
than  just  enough  to  sustain  life. 

EXPERIMENT  SHOWING   FURTHER  PROOF  THAT  WAX  IS 
PRODUCED  FROM   HONEY. 

In  order  to  show  more  conclusively  that  wax- working 
is  carried  on,  without  the  use  of  pollen,  or  of  any  sub- 
stance except  honey.  I  will  narrate  an  experiment  that 
took  place  last  October. 

I  had  a  couple  of  weak  swarms  that  had  gathered  no 
honey  beyond  their  daily  supply,  and  had  built  but  a 
few  short  combs.  Their  numbers  were  so  small  that  I 
had  no  hopes  of  their  being  able  to  survive  through  the 
winter.  On  going  to  the  apiary  on  a  pleasant  day, 
about  the  20th  of  October,  I  was  surprised  to  see  a 
swarm  of  bees  in  the  air.  They  soon  clustered  and 
formed  a  bunch  about  the  size  of  a  quart  measure.  I 
found  this  to  be  one  of  the  weak  swarms  before  men- 
tioned, that  had  left  its  original  tenement  for  some  un- 
certain destiny. 

I  took  a  new  clean  hive,  and  having,  with  the  aid  of 


110  miner's    AMERICAN 

melted  bees-wax,  fastened  a  few  pieces  of  clean,  new 
combs  in  the  hive,  and  saturated  them  with  honey,  I  then 
hived  the  bees,  and  set  the  hive  in  a  new  location,  and 
fed  them  plentifully  with  pure  honey.  The  next  day, 
another  swarm  deserted,  of  the  same  character  ;  leaving 
a  little  brood  and  no  honey.  I  hived  them  also,  pre- 
cisely in  the  same  way,  and  fed  both  swarms  with  as 
much  pure  honey  as  they  could  consume,  or  carry 
away.  I  found  that  both  swarms  began  to  build  combs 
rapidly,  it  being  very  warm  weather  for  the  season ;  but 
not  a  solitary  pellet  of  farina  was  brought  into  the  hives, 
as  I  could  discover  ;  and  none  being  in  the  combs  that 
I  fastened  in  myself,  how  can  it  be  possible  that  wax  is 
formed  from  any  other  substance  than  honey  ?  I  think 
my  own  experiments  have  settled  the  question,  in  con- 
nection with  the  general  economy  of  the  bee  in  wax- 
working,  that  has  come  under  my  own  observation — 
that  is,  so  far  as  my  own  opinion  on  the  subject  is  con- 
cerned, but  lest  some  of  my  readers  should  still  require 
further  proof,  I  will  now  give  the  experiments  of  the 
"  Prince  of  apiarians"  on  this  subject,  as  a  quietus. 

THE  EXPERIMENTS  OF  HUBER,  SHOWING  THAT  BEES  WORK 
IN  WAX  WHEN  CONFINED,  AND  FED  ON  HONEY  OR 
SUGAR     ONLY. 

He  says :  "  The  existence  of  the  organs  before  de- 
scribed, and  the  scales  seen  under  different  gradations, 
induce  us  to  believe  them  appropriated  for  the  secretion 
of  wax.     But  in  common  with  other  animal  and  vege- 


bee-keeper's  manual.  Ill 

table  secretions,  the  means  by  which  this  is  accom- 
plished appears  to  be  carefully  veiled  in  nature. 

Our  researches,  by  simple  observation,  thus  being  ob- 
structed, we  felt  it  essential  to  adopt  other  methods  for 
ascertaining  whether  wax  actually  is  a  secretion,  or 
collection  of  a  particular  substance. 

Providing  it  were  the  former,  we  had  first  to  verify 
the  opinion  of  Reaumer,  who  conjectured  that  it  came 
from  an  elaboration  of  pollen  in  the  stomach,  though  we 
did  not  coincide  with  him  in  the  opinion  that  bees  then 
disgorged  it  by  the  mouth.  Neither  were  we  disposed 
to  adopt  his  sentiments  regarding  its  origin ;  for,  like 
Hunter,  it  had  struck  us  that  swarms,  newly  settled  in 
empty  hives,  do  not  bring  home  pollen,  notwithstanding 
they  construct  combs,  while  the  bees  of  old  hives, 
having  no  combs  to  build,  gather  it  abundantly. 

We  had,  therefore,  to  learn  whether  bees,  deprived  of 
pollen  for  a  series  of  time  would  make  wax,  and  all  that 
is  required  is  confinement. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  we  lodged  a  swarm  which  had 
just  left  the  parent  stock,  in  a  straw  hive,  with  as  much 
honey  and  water  as  necessary  for  the  consumption  of  the 
bees,  and  closed  the  entrance'so  as  to^  prevent  all  possi- 
bility of  escape,  leaving  access  for  renewal  of  the  air. 

x\t  first,  the  bees  were  greatly  agitated  ;  but  we  suc- 
ceeded in  calming  them  by  carrying  the  hive  to  a  coal- 
dark  place,  where  their  captivity  lasted  five  days.  They 
were  then  allowed  to  take  flight  in  an  apartment,  the 
windows  of  which  were  carefully  shut,  and  where  the 
hive  could  be  examined  convenientlv.     The  bees  had 


112  MINERS    AMERICAN 

consumed  their  whole  provision  of  honey.;  but  their 
dwelling,  which  did  not  contain  an  atom  of  wax  when 
we  established  them  in  it,  had  now  acquired  five  combs  of 
the  most  beautiful  wax  suspended  from  its  arch,  of  a 
pure  white,  and  very  brittle. 

We  did  not  expect  so  speedy  a  solution  of  the  pro- 
blem ;  but  before  concluding  that  the  bees  had  derived 
the  faculty  of  producing  wax  from  honey  on  which  they 
fed,  a  second  experiment,  susceptible  of  no  other  expla- 
nation, was  necessary. 

The  workers,  though  in  captivity,  had  been  able  to 
collect  farina ;  while  they  were  ,at  liberty,  they  might 
have  obtained  provisions  on  the  eve,  or  on  the  day 
itself  of  their  imprisonment,  and  enough  might  have 
been  in  the  stomach  or  on  the  limbs  to  enable  them  to 
extract  the  wax  from  it  that  we  found  in  the  hive.  But 
if  it  actually  came  from  the  farina  previously  collected, 
this  source  was  not  inexhaustible ;  and  the  bees  being 
unable  to  obtain  more,  would  cease  to  construct  combs, 
and  would  fall  into  absolute  inaction. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  second  experiment,  which 
was  to  consist  in  prolonging  their  captivity,  we  took 
care  to  remove  ali  the  combs  they  had  formed  in  that 
preceeding.  Buernens  made  them  return  to  their  hive, 
and  confined  them  again  with  a  new  portion  of  honey. 

The  experiment  was  not  tedious.  From  the  evening 
of  the  subsequent  day  we  observed  them  working  in 
wax  anew ;  and  on  examining  the  hive  on  the  third  day, 
we  actually  found  five  combs,  as  regular  as  those  they 
had  made  during  their  first  imprisonment. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  113 

The  combs  were  removed  five  times  successively,  but 
always  under  the  precaution  of  the  escape  of  the  bees 
from  the  apartment  being  prevented  ;  and  during  this 
long  interval,  the  same  insects  were  preserved  and  fed 
with  honey  exclusively.  Undoubtedly,  the  experiment, 
had  we  deemed  it  necessary,  might  have  been  prolonged 
with  equal  success.  On  each  occasion  that  we  supplied 
them  with  honey,  they  produced  new  combs,  which  puts 
it  beyond  doubt  that  this  substance  effected  the  secre- 
tion of  wax  in  their  bodies,  without  the  aid  of  pollen. 
As  the  reverse  of  the  preceding  experiment  would  prove 
whether  the  pollen  itself  had  the  same  property,  instead 
of  supplying  our  bees  with  honey,  we  fed  them  on  no- 
thing except  fruit  and  farina.  They  were  kept  eight 
days  in  captivity,  under  a  glass  bell  with  a  comb,  having 
only  farina  in  the  cells  ;  yet  they  neither  made  wax,  nor 
were  scales  seen  under  the  rings.  Could  any  doubt 
exist  as  to  the  real  origin  of  wax  ?  We  entertained 
none." 

Huber  also  tried  the  result  of  feeding  on  sugar,  in- 
stead of  honey,  while  the  bees  were  confined.  The 
bees  produced  wax  sooner,  and  in  greater  abundance, 
than  when  fed  on  honey. 

A  pound  of  refined  sugar,  reduced  to  .a  syrup,  and 
clarified  with  eggs,  produced  10  drams,  52  grains  of 
wax,  darker  than  that  extracted  by  the  bees  from  honey. 
An  equal  weight  of  dark  broWn  sugar  produced  22 
drams  of  very  white  wax — the  like  came  from  maple 
sugar ;  that  is,  two  ounces  and  three-quarters  was  the 


Il4  bee-keeper's  manual. 

greatest  quantity  of  wax   obtained   from   a  pound   of 
sugar. 


Having  now  given  the  reader  a  brief  view  of  the  pre- 
liminary features  of  my  subject,  I  think  he  is  enabled 
to  advance  to  the  more  interesting  part  of  the  work,  and 
to  fully  understand  the  merits  of  the  case.  I  say  "  to 
advance  to  the.  more  interesting  part,  &c. — I  mean  to 
the  practical  apiarian,  whose  sole  object  is  not  amuse- 
ment. 


PART    SECOND. 


CHAPTER    XII. 


REMARKS. 

A  CONSIDERABLE  portioii  of  this  work  will  now  be  de- 
voted to  the  practical  management  of  bees;  since  it  is 
this  branch  of  my  subject,  that  will  most  interest  the 
bee-keepers  of  this  country,  at  least. 

I  cannot  say,  that  the  rules  that  I  shall  adduce  will 
divest  the  management  of  bees  of  all  the  difficulties  per- 
taining to  their  successful  culture,  but  such  as  I  shall 
offer,  vi^ill  have  the  merit  of  being  the  result  of  my  own 
experience,  and   not   the  result  of  other  men's   brains. 

That  a  thorough  practical  treatise  on  this  branch  of 
rural  economy  is  much  needed  by  the  American  apia- 
rian, I  believe  every  one  who  is  fully  acquainted  with 
the  subject  will  admit ;  but  do  not  understand  me,  as 
arrogating  to  myself  the  honor  of  having  in  this  treatise 
furnished  exactly  the  work  that  is  so  loudly  called  for. 
I  have  made  an  attempt  at  furnishing  something  better 
than  the  American  works  extant  on  this  subject — how 


116  miner's    AMERir/»M 

much  better,  or  how  much  worse,  than  my  predecessor f, 
I  leave  the  pubHc  to  judge. 

The  American  treatises  on  the  honey-bee,  up  to  the 
present  period,  are  quite  brief,  and  very  meagre  in  prac- 
tical details,  as  I  have  before  observed,  hardly  giving 
the  subject  even  a  tolerable  discussion  in  its  various 
branches,  and  leaving  out  entirely  very  many  things  of 
the  greatest  practical  importance.  I  do  not  thus  speak 
of  these  works  in  a  spirit  of  disparagement,  in  order  to 
build  up  my  own  reputation  on  the  wreck  of  other 
writers ;  but  I  speak  as  a  faithful  in"storian,  seeking  no 
advantage  save  what  truth  will  honorably  award  me. 

The  various  foreign  treatises  on  this  subject  that  have 
had  a  limited  circulation  in  this  country,  are  not,  in  my 
estimation,  suited  to  the  wants  of  American  bee-keepers. 
Many  of  them  are  works  of  great  merit,  yet  I  think  the 
most  of  them  neglect  the  practical,  and  devote  too  much 
space  to  the  theoretical  portions  of  their  works.  Again, 
they  are  too  expensive  for  us.  Dr.  Bevan's  work,  how- 
ever, is  an  Exception.  His  treatise  was  reprinted  some 
years  ago  in  this  country,  and  sold  at  a  very  moderate 
price,  but  I  believe  it  is  now  entirely  out  of  the  market. 

The  art  of  managing  bees  in  this  country  is  probably 
as  little  understood  as  any  other  branch  of  rural  econo- 
my ;  that  is,  so  far  as  profit,  health  and  productiveness 
are  concerned. 

It  is  generally  supposed,  that  bees  require  little  or  no 
care,  and  if  they  prove  unproductive,  or  are  destroyed 
from  the  ravages  of  the  bee-moth,  it  is  a  mere  matter  of 
chance,  wholly  beyond  the  control  of  the  ow^ner. 

This  is  a  gross  error.  The  same  care  and  expense 
that  a  farmer  bestows  on  his  pigs  or  his  poultry,  would 


bee-keeper's  manual.  117 

produce  much  larger  profits  if  bestowed  on  the  culture 
of  his  bees.  But  bees  are  not  to  be  looked  after  or 
cared  for.  When  their  owner  passes  the  hives,  he  barely 
condescends  to  look  at  them,  as  if  they  were  crying  out, 
"  noli  me  tangere  !" — Stand  off! — Keep  your  distance, 
sir!"  This  is  not  right.  Every  bee-keeper  should  cul- 
tivate a  better  familiarity  with  his  bees,  and  know  at  all 
times  their  condition  and  their  wants.  The  time  neces- 
sary for  doing  this  is  comparatively  trifling. 

Indeed,  the  cultivation  of  bees  may  not  only  be  made 
a  source  of  moderate  profit  m  all  cases,  but  when  pro- 
perly attended  to,  a  fortune  might  be  accumulated  from 
the  labors  of  this  insect  alone  ! 


CHAPTER    XIII 


HIVES. 

During  the  last  twenty  years,  many  new  and  use  ^a 
bee-hives  have  been  palmed  off  on  the  ignorant  and  too 
confiding  bee-keepers  of  our  country.  Men  who  have 
had  sufficient  brains  to  devise  some  new  plan  and  style 
of  hive  that  did  not  befare  exist — who  never  understood 
a  single  principle  of  the  management  of  bees  correctly, 
have,  by  dint  of  unblushing  falsehood  and  impudence, 


118  miner's    AMERICAN 

bled  the  bee-keeping  community  pretty  freely.  Let  it 
be  here  understood,  that  Avhatever  I  may  say  in  the  fol- 
lowing pages  in  regard  to  different  hives  in  use  in  this 
country  or  in  JEurope,  I  shall  be  actuated  by  no  other 
motive  than  simply  to  relate  the  truth,  as  I  view  the  case. 
Every  person  acquainted  with  the  subject,  will  bear  me 
out  in  the  assertion,  that  there  has  never  yet  been  intro- 
duced or  invented,  a  hive  that,  after  a  patient  and  fair 
trial,  ever  answered  the  purpose  as  originally  recom- 
mended. The  reason  is,  that  inventors  promise  too  much 
— more  than  it  is  possible  for  the  bee  to  accomplish.  It 
is  true,  that  I  shall  introduce  a  hive  of  my  own  in  this 
work,  and  many  persons  may  suppose,  that  the  pungency 
of  my  remarks  upon  other  hives,  is  to  open  the  way  to 
my  own ;  but  in  this  they  are  greatly  mistaken,  for  the 
whole  tenor  of  this  book  is  against  all  hives  promising 
great  and  unprecedented  results  in  the  gathering  of 
honey,  &c.,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  fact,  that  some 
one  is  now  selling  a  hive  disa.  patent  of  his  own  invention, 
got  up  by  me  some  years  ago,  and  gratuitously  tendered 
to  the  public  through  the  Am.  Agriculturist,  I  should  not 
have  brought  forward  the  hive  referred  lo,  except  as  free. 
Had  I  wished  to  make  the  greatest  possible  amount  of 
money  out  of  the  sale  of  my  hive,  widiout  any  conscien- 
tious scruples  reining  me  within  the  pale  of  truth  in  my 
declarations  of  its  merits,  I  should  have  written  a  very 
different  book  from  this ;  and  the  reader  will  at  once 
see,  on  perusing  this  treatise,  that  my  general  remarks 
on  hives  are  anything  but  such  as  will  aid  the  sale  of 
my  own. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  119 

size  of  hives. 

The  first  desideratum  with  the  apiarian  is,  the  proper 
dimensions  of  hives.  As  the  builder  in  rearing  his  edi- 
fice, sees  that  its  foundation  is  firmly  laid,  that  the  super- 
structure may  not  be  impaired;  so  does  the  apiarian 
look  to  the  correct  size  of  his  bee-hives,  that  his  subse- 
quent labors  may  not  prove  in  vain,  in  the  management 
and  culture  of  his  bees. 

Notwithstanding  the  enquiry  has  been  abroad  through- 
out all  Christendom  during  centuries,  in  regard  to  the 
true  shape  and  size  of  bee-hives  ;  yet  we  stand  in  the 
same  position  that  we  did  a  hundred  years  ago,  relative 
i."»  this  important  question.  Every  bee-keeper  has  his 
size  and  shape,  and  no  one  is  able  to  set  the  question  at 
rest.  We  find  hives  from  the  little  box  of  six  inches 
square,  made  expressly  for  very  small  swarms,  up  to 
almost  any  dimensions,  even  to  the  size  of  a  barrel. 
There  seems  to  be  a  perfect  chaos  existing  in  the  minds 
of  men  on  this  subject,  or  rather,  that  every  man's  views 
on  this  subject,  are  so  vague  and  undefined,  that  a  cha- 
otic confusion  is  the  general  state  of  public  sentiment 
on  this  very  important  branch  of  bee-culture. 

Now,  can  any  one  reasonably  suppose  that  there  is 
no  solution  to  this  query  ?  Does  any  one  presume,  that 
a  small  hive  or  a  large  hive  ;  a  short  hive  or  a  long  hive, 
is  all  the  same  ;  making  no  diflference  at  all  in  the  gene- 
ral prosperity  of  the  apiary  1  No  one  can  thus  think,  for 
it  is  contrary  to  the  general  principles  of  common  sense  ; 
yet  bee-keepers,  to  a  great  extent,  act  on  this  principle, 


120  miner's    AMERICAN 

and  fill  their  bee-gardens  with  every  manner  of  hive, 
throwing  all  system  to  the  winds. 

As  I  look  upon  this  subject,  there  must  be  a  right 
size,  and  a  wrong  size— a  right  shape,  and  a  wrong 
shape.  But  the  grand  question  is,  what  is  the  right  size 
and  shape?  There's  the  rub  !  Who  can  answer  ?  In 
my  opinion,  every  bee-hive  in  the  United  States  should 
be  of  a  certain  size  and  shape. 

SPACE    NECESSARY    FOR    SWARMS. 

The  queen  is  able  to  produce  a  certain  number  of 
larvee,  or  brood,  in  a  season.  She  requires  a  certain 
area  of  space  in  which  to  deposit  her  eggs,  and  more 
than  enough  is  worse  than  useless.  Like  the  coat  upon 
one's  back,  a  close  fit  is  required  ;  beyond,  or  short  of 
this,  is  either  ruinous,  or  highly  disadvantageous. 

It  is  true,  that  some  queens  are  more  fertile  than  others 
even  the  same  queens  produce  more  larvae  some  sea- 
sons than  in  others.  This  is  quite  natural,  since  a  bee 
is  liable  to  be  affected  by  various  vicissitudes  of  life,  as 
well  as  any  other  animate  being.  But  admitting  this, 
we  then  wish  to  know  what  space  is  necessary  to  af- 
ford an  average  area  for  a  queen's  use,  giving,  as  a 
general  rule,  as  much  room  as  can  be  used,  and  at  the 
same  time  leave  no  waste  space  ? 

NUMBER  OF  WORKERS  ADVANTAGEOUSLY  EMPLOYED. 

Again,  how  many  workers  can  -be  employed  in  the 
same  hive  to  advantage  ?  There  is  an  answer  to  this 
_a  definite  answer;  yet  I   never  beheld   the   subject 


bee-keeper's  manual.  121 

mooted,  as  well  as  many  other  important  questions, 
touching  the  management  of  bees,  in  any  work  pub- 
lished in  either  Europe  or  America. 

The  case  lies  simply  here  : — you  may  put  a  queen 
into  a  hive  suited  to  her  requirements,  and  you  may  then 
give  her  just  as  many  workers  as  she  ought  to  have  ; 
that  is,  the  number  that  will  readily  construct  the  re- 
quired complement  of  combs,  and  have  the  various 
branches  of  labor  pertaining  to  the  family  all  progress- 
ing harmoniously,  without  any  branch  being  retarded,  to 
the  detriment  of  other  branches.  You  may  then  add  to 
this  specific  number  of  bees  that  constitute  just  enough, 
a  few  more  thousand,  and  you  derange  all  their  labors, 
by  an  excess  of  laborers.  Every  one  knows,  that  when 
a  body  of  mechanics  are  at  work  on  any  kind  of  employ- 
ment, and  as  many  are  thus  employed,  as  can  conveni- 
ently find  room  to  labor  in,  that  if  another  body  of  men 
be  thrust  in  to  aid  them,  that  instead  of  being  an  aid  to 
them,  they  would  actually  retard  the  work.  So  it  is 
with  a  family  of  bees.  When  once  a  family  have 
enough  laborers,  more  are  worse  than  useless,  and  they 
retard  the  labors  of  the  family,  by  crowding  among  the 
combs,  and  also  farther  injury  is  done,  in  consuming  the 
stores  in  a  greater  ratio  to  their  increase,  than  when  the 
proper  number  of  bees  only  occupy  the  hive. 

A    LACK  OF  WORKERS  DISASTROUS  TO    THE    FAMILY. 

The  same,  or  rather  equally  disastrous  effects  follow 
the  lack  of  a  sufficient  number  of  bees  to  perform  the 
necessary  labors   of  the  family.     The  queen  requires 


122  miner's    AMERICAN 

some  five  or  six  combs,  about  twelve  inches  square,  in 
which  to  deposit  her  eggs ;  and  on  taking  possession  of 
a  new  hive,  on  swarming,  she  requires  these  combs  as 
soon  as  they  can  be  constructed.  If  the  swarm  be 
small,  these  combs  are  not  built  until  the  season  is  so  far 
past  that  they  are  of  little  use,  and  the  chances  are,  that 
they  are  not  built  at  all.  Some  four  or  five  segments  of 
combs,  of  about  half  the  usual  size,  are  all  that  are  built 
generally.  In  these  combs  the  queen  finds  but  a  small 
portion  of  the  space,  that  she  would  use,  as  a  receptacle 
of  her  eggs,  if  she  had  the  necessary  room ;  and  even 
what  space  she  has,  under  such  circumstances,  cannot 
be  devoted  to  the  young  brood,  since  the  sparseness  of 
the  laborers  of  her  family  calls  for  so  many  to  be  con- 
stantly abroad,  that  but  a  very  few  remain  at  home ; 
consequently,  the  necessary  heat  to  develope  the  brood 
cannot  be  generated,  and  the  queen  knowing  this,  will 
only  deposit  a  few  eggs  in  the  centres  of  such  few  combs 
as  she  has,  and  do  the  best  she  can.  In  such  cases,  the 
queen  may  confine  her  laying  to  two  or  three  places, 
where  the  most  warmth  can  be  generated,  of  about  the 
size  of  a  tea-cup,  when,  if  she  had  a  hive  full  of  combs, 
and  workers  enough,  she  would  cover  some  five  or  six, 
or  more  combs,  twelve  inches  square  ;  and  produce  more 
bees  in  one  month  in  this  way,  than  in  a  year,  as  before 
stated. 

The  only  way  for  such  families,  short  in  numbers,  to 
make  up  their  complement,  is  to  await  another  season, 
when,  taking  time  by  the  forelock,  they  will  have  the 
usual  numbers  by  midsummer. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  123 

In  the  foregoing  case  of  a  superfluous  number  of  bees, 
it  is  not  advisable  to  give  more  room,  for  the  reason,  that 
when  we  determine  what  is  the  exact  size  of  a  bee-hive, 
we  should  adhere  to  that  size  in  all  cases. 

EFFECTS    OF  TOO  SMALL  AND  TOO    LARGE    HIVES. 

Various  are  the  reasons  for  making  all  hives  of  the 
same  size.  If  we  make  them  too  small,  the  bees  are 
more  liable  to  perish  from  the  effects  of  an  unfavorable 
winter,  and  from  the  ravages  of  the  bee-moth,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  weak  condition  of  the  family.  The  queen, 
in  such  cases,  as  before  stated,  is  curtailed  of  her  neces- 
sary room,  and  not  as  many  bees  will  be  produced ;  and 
and  whatever  operates  as  a  check  to  the  production  of 
larvae,  is  a.  fatal  error  in  the  management  of  bees. 

If  we  construct  our  hives  too  large,  the  bees  will  re- 
quire two  years  to  fill  them  ;  and  the  natural  increase 
by  swarming  is  much  lessened,  and,  in  some  cases,  en- 
tirely prev^ented  for  a  series  of  years.  Hives  of  this 
character  are  those  made  about  fourteen  inches  in  diam- 
eter, by  about  fifteen  or  eighteen  inches  in  length.  Such 
a  size  I  consider  to  be  entirely  at  variance  with  the  na- 
tural requirements  of  the  bee. 

On  the  other  hand,  hives  made  about  a  foot  in  diame- 
ter, by  six  or  eight  inches  deep,  or  eight  or  ten  inclies  in 
diameter,  by  a  foot  in  length,  I  consider  equally  fatal 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  bees.  Such  hives  do  not  afford 
the  area  of  combs  that  a  queen  requires ;  and  hence, 
she  is  debarred  the  opportunity  of  giving  that  increase, 
that  she  otherwise  would.     Such   small  families  do  not 


124  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

winter  as  well ;  as  it  has  been  thoroughly  tested,  that 
strong  stocks  winter  better,  and  consume  less  honey 
than  weaker  ones  !  This  may  appear  strange  to  those 
who  are  unacquainted  with  this  subject ;  yet  it  is  true, 
for  the  reason,  that  the  bees  are  less  exposed  in 
strong  stocks,  to  the  various  winter  changes  of  weather, 
to  which  our  climate  is  subject. 

A  few  warm  days  in  winter  will  put  the  whole  of  a 
small  stock  in  motion  ;  whereas,  a  strong  one  is  mucii 
less  affected  ;  and  when  a  family  of  bees  is  once  aroused 
from  their  lethargy,  they  consume  double  the  quantity  of 
honey  that  they  do  when  in  a  state  of  quietude.  But 
setting  this  matter  entirely  out  of  the  question,  there  are 
yet  good  reasons  for  having  larger  hives.  When  bees 
are  placed  in  hives  adapted  to  their  natural  wants, 
giving  no  excess  of  room,  nor  curtailing  the  use  of  such 
space,  as  they  actually  require,  they  then  cast  off"  their 
first  swarms  of  such  numbers  as  nature  teaches  them 
are  best  adapted  to  prove  prosperous ;  and  it  matters  not 
how  large  your  hive  may  be,  if  a  swarm  be  cast,  which 
is  seldom  with  families  in  large  hives,  it  will  not  be  in 
proportion  to  the  size  of  the  hive,  but  in  accordance 
with  the  laws  of  nature,  governing  the  bee. 

Now,  to  come  to  the  point,  with  as  few  words  as  pos- 
sible, and  do  justice  to  my  subject,  I  will  say,  that  I  have 
found,  from  many  years  of  close  application  to  the  na- 
ture, economy,  and  general  management  of  bees,  that 
hives  about  one  foot  square  in  the  clear  ;  that  is,  in  the 
inside,  conform  more  to  the  natural  habits  and  acquire- 
ments of  bees,  than  anv  other  size. 


bee-ke£pkr's  manual.  125 

the  instinct  and  nature  of  the  bee  unchangeable. 

There  is  not  a  solitary  feature  pertaining  to  the  do- 
mestic lioney-bee  of  the  United  States,  that  is  not  found 
just  as  fully  developed  in  Siberia,  Russia,  China,  Africa, 
Greenland,  or  in  any  other  part  of  the  world.  Kingdoms 
may  perish,  and  the  giant  oak  may  thrive  amid  the  ruins 
of  cities  now  teeming  with  life  and  gaiety,  but  the  in- 
stinct and  wisdom,  and  natural  habits  of  the  little  bee, 
implanted  in  her  censorium  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  will  stand  as  immutable  as  the  great  Creator  of 
all.  Not  all  the  art  and  genius  of  man  can  teach  the 
bee  one  jot  or  tittle  of  knowledge  beyond  what  God  hcis 
given  the  impress  of!  Nor  does  she  need  man's  wis- 
dom. Perfect  in  every  work,  she  stands  forth  an  exam- 
ple for  man,  at  least  in  her  habits  of  industry.  In  her 
architecture,  no  man  can  imitate  her.  From  •her  un- 
changeable course,  that  has  marked  her  career  since  the 
creation  of  the  world,  no  power  on  earth  can  cause  her 
to  deviate.  The  folly  of  man  is  now  busy  in  prescribing 
limits,  in  forcing  her  to  act  contrary  to  her  wonted  na- 
ture, or  rather  surrounding  her  with  useless  contri- 
vances, to  force  from  her  what  nature  has  not  bestowed 
upon  her,  in  great  and  extraordinary  labors  and  products 
of  the  mellifluous  juices  ;  but  it  is  all  time  spent  in  vain. 
The  honey-bee  is  capable  of  doing  just  so  much,  when 
she  has  wherewithal  to  do  with  ;  and  it  requires  no 
stimulus  from  man  to  bring  her  to  her  task.  All  that 
man  can  do,  is  to  give  her  a  tenement  suited  to  her 
wants,  and  if  the  fields  afford  honev,  she  will  gather  it. 


126  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

There  is  no  such  thing  as  laziness  with  the  bee.  Far 
more  depends  upon  the  hee-pasturage  and  season  than 
upon  anything  that  man  can  do  ;  yet  we  have  our  part 
to  do  also,  and  it  is  only  by  a  proper  attention  to  our 
duties,  that  the  bee  is  protected  in  her  labors,  that  result 
in  her  own  prosperity,  and  to  our  own  advantage. 

RESULT  OF  THE  AUTHOr's  EXPERIENCE  IN  LARGE    HIVES. 

In  1842  I  had  a  few  hives  made  12  by  18  inches  in 
the  clear;  that  is,  12  inches  wide,  and  18  inches  long. 
In  speaking  of  the  size  of  hives,  I  refer  to  the  body  of 
the  hive  for  the  dwelling  of  the  bees,  without  any  regard 
to  what  are  termed  supers*  for  storifying.  I  found  that 
it  took  the  bees  two  seasons  to  fill  my  large  hives  ;  and 
when  filled,  they  did  not  swarm  at  all  some  seasons  ;  for 
the  reason,  that  however  great  the  quantity  of  bees  may 
be  in  a  ffive,  in  the  summer  and  fall,  they  dwindle  away 
before  spring,  to  a  certain  quantity  ;  and  thus  leave  a 
vacant  space  at  the  bottom  of  the  hive,  of  some  six 
inches  or  more,  to  be  filled  up  with  the  increase  of 
spring ;  while  smaller  hives  are  full,  and  are  throwing 
oflf  swarms  in  profusion.  Here  lies  the  philosophy  of 
adapting  the  hive  to  the  natural  wants  of  the  bee.  I 
will  illustrate  this  point  by  a  supposable  case. 

An  apiarian  places  a  swarm  of  bees  in  a  hive,  say  14 
inches  in  diameter,  by  two  feet  in  length  ;  the  bees  might 
possibly  fill  the  hive  with  combs,  the  second  year,  but 

*  Supers  are  such  hives,  or  boxes,  as  are  placed  above  the  regu- 
lar hive,  and  receive  the  surplus  gatherings  of  the  bees,  and  may 
be  removed  at  pleasure. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  127 

swarming  is  entirely  out  of  the  question  with  a  family  of 
bees  in  such  a  hive.  The  increase  of  every  succeed- 
ing year  would  di'sappear  before  the  following  spring,  or 
rather  numbers  equaling  the  increase ;  since  all  the 
bees  existing  in  hives  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  save  the 
queen,  were  the  young  of  the  preceding  summer  and  fall. 
Now,  ten  years  have,  past,  and  this  hive  is  in  precisely 
the  same  condition  that  it  was  in  nine  years  ago.  Not 
a  solitary  swarm  has  ever  issued  therefrom.  Ten  gene- 
rations of  bees  have  existed,  nine  of  which  are  past 
away. 

We  now  pass  to  what  would  have  been  the  result,  if 
said  swarm  had  originally  been  put  into  a  hive  about  12 
inches  square. 

The  second  year,  a  swarm  would  have  issued,  without 
doubt,  and  perhaps  two  ;  but  we'll  say  one,  in  order  to 
be  on  the  safe  side,  as  it  is  not  my  intention  to  give  an 
over- wrought  picture  in  anything  I  that  may  discuss.  We 
will  now  take  the  very  reasonable,  and  low  estimate,  of 
one  swarm  from  every  stock,  every  season,  and  count 
up  how  many  would  be  the  result  at  the  end  of  ten  years. 
The  second  year,  2,  in  all ;  the  third  year,  4  ;  the  fourth 
year,  8;  the  fifth  year,  16;  the  sixth  year,  32;  and  so 
on-;r-the  tenth  year  showing  five  hundred  and  twelve 
families  from  a  single  swarm ! ! !  In  this  calculation,  we 
allow  no  drawbacks  to  the  prosperity  of  the  bees,  such 
as  destruction  by  the  bee-moth,  &c. ;  yet  the  usual  cas- 
ualities  attending  the  culture  of  bees,  I  contend,  can  be 
almost,  if  not  wholly  prevented  by  proper  managemeiit. 
So  confident  am  I,  that  512  families  of  bees  can,  in  ten 


128  miner's    AMERICAN 

years  be  produced  from  a  single  swarm,  that  I  should  not 
hesitate  to  enter  into  heavy  bonds,  (the  uncertainty  of 
life  considered,)  to  produce  that  number,  or  forfeit  the 
whole  actually  produced. 

512  stocks  of  bees  are  worth,  at  least,  five  dollars  per 
stock,  amounting  to  the  enormous  sum  of  $2,560,  while 
the  sa7ne  swarm,  from  which  so  vast  a  profit  arises,  if 
placed  in  too  large  a  hive,  at  the  end  of  ten  years,  is 
worth  but  the  paltry  sum  of  $5,  with  no  increase  !  I 
leave  the  reader  to  his  own  reflections,  on  the  wretched 
management  of  bees,  as  too  generally  practiced  in  every 
part  of  the  country. 

HIVES  DIMINISHED   IN  LENGTH. 

In  regard  to  my  large  hives,  I  saw  the  fallacy  of  such 
dimensions,  and  concluded  to  tiy  the  experiment  of 
cutting  them  off,  nearly  filled  with  bees  as  they  were, 
which  I  performed  with  a  common  hand-saw ;  the  man- 
ner of  doing  which,  was  as  follows  : — 

It  was  in  the  month  of  April,  that  I  performed  the 
operation.  I  ought  to  have  done  it  in  February  or 
March,  but  the  idea  did  not  occur  to  me,  until  those 
months  had  past.  On  a  cool  morning,  I  examined  my 
hives,  and  found  a  vacant  space  of  about  six  inches  at 
the  bottom  of  each  hive,  unoccupied  by  bees.  I  then 
set  them,  one  at  a  time,  on  a  table  with  the  bottom- 
board  up,  in  close  contact  with  the  hive,  giving  the  bees 
no  opportunity  to  escape.  Having  my  saw  put  in  prime 
order,  and  having  secured  the  table  against  a  sup- 
port, to  render  it  firm,  I  was  then  ready  to  operate. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  129 

Here  allow  me  to  say,  that  a  man's  success  in  almost 
any  undertaking,  depends  upon  his  calmly  surveying  the 
whole  ground,  and  foreseeing  this  or  that  result  before 
he  gets  through ;  and  hem^  fully  prepared  and  commen- 
cing aright.  Had  I  taken  a  dull  saw,  and  commenced 
this  operation  without  securing  my  table  firmly,  I  should 
have  probably  failed  in  my  attempt ;  besides,  by  some 
mishap,  perhaps  I  might  have  been  mortally  stung. 
These  are  small  matters,  it  is  true,  yet  in  all  of  our  ope- 
rations with  bees,  it  requires  a  nicety  of  calculation  and 
philosophic  view  of  the  case ;  that  we  may  coolly  per- 
form our  task,  and  know  what  effect  every  move  we 
make  will  have  upon  that  insect,  so  tenacious  of  her 
rights. 

Having  marked  off  the  part  of  the  hive  to  be  cut 
asunder,  and  having  made  niches  on  the  corners  of  the 
same  in  order  to  set  in  the  saw  the  more  easily,  I  cut 
gently  on  one  side,  until  I  felt  the  saw  perforate  the  combs. 
I  then  placed  small  wedges  in  the  seam  at  the  corners, 
and  commenced  on  another  side ;  when  this  side  was 
also  sawed  through,  I  inserted  wedges  as  before,  and  so 
on  until  I  had  completely  cut  the  hives  in  two.  The 
bees  did  not  seem  to  be  molested  much,  if  any.  I  then 
took  a  small  wire,  about  a  yard  long,  and  having  wound 
the  ends  around  sticks,  to  serve  as  handles,  I  then  drew 
it  gently  and  carefully  across  the  combs,  through  the 
aperture  made  by  the  saw,  taking  especial  care  to 
have  the  wire  sever  them  across  the  edges,  rather  than 
the  sides ;  since  that  course  would  displace  the  position 
of  them  less,  and  much  less  disturb  the  bees.  Having 
6* 


130  miner's    AMERICAN 

cut  the  combs  entirely  off,  nothing  remained  to  be  done 
but  to  place  the  hive  in  its  proper  position  in  the  apiary. 
I  allowed  it  to  remain  fifteen  minutes,  to  quiet  the 
bees,  and  then  went  out  and  placed  it  in  its  position ; 
and  not  a  bee  seemed  to  know  that  a  change  had  taken 
place  in  the  size  of  the  hive,  so  tranquil  and  peaceable 
were  they. 

The  time  had  now  arrived  for  the  bees  to  sally  out, 
and  I  deferred  the  operation  of  another  hive  until  the 
following  morning.  I  thus  continued  cutting  one  off 
every  morning,  until  all  were  finished. 

Thus,  it  will  be  seen,  that  if  any  of  my  readers  should 
have  hives  of  a  size  that  a  portion  of  their  length  would 
be  desirable  to  cut  off,  the  manner  of  accomplishing  it 
is  easy. 

After  cutting  off  my  large  hives,  I  found  that  they 
contained  no  more  bees  than  hives  one  foot  square,  that 
I  possessed;  and  those  of  that  size  actually  swarmed 
first,  and  had  also  swarmed  the  preceding  season,  while 
my  large  hives  had  not  cast  a  swarm  for  a  period  of  two 
or  three  years ! 

This  result  renders  it  conclusive  to  my  mind,  that  it 
is  folly  for  the  apiarian  to  pay  no  regard  to  the  proper 
size  of  hives,  or  rather  suppose  that  the  size  has  but  a 
secondary  bearing  upon  the  prosperity  of  his  bees.  The 
size,  sir,  is  everything;  and  until  you  learn  this  fact, 
and  act  upon  it,  your  time  is  spent  in  vain. 

SMALL  HIVES  NOT  APPROPRIATE  FOR  SMALL  SWARMS. 

Some  apiarians  consider  that  the  hive  should  conform 


bee-keepee's  manual.  131 

to  the  size  of  the  swarm ;  rather  than  place  small  swarms 

in  ordinary  hives,  and  allow  the  bees  to  remain  therein 
until  they  are  filled  by  the  natural  increase  of  the  family. 

This  is  a  great  error ;  but,  say  they  who  defend  this 
principle : — "  A  large  family  requires  a  large  house,  and 
a  small  family,  a  small  house."  This  is  ti-ue  of  people, 
but  it  has  no  bearing  at  all  on  the  room  suitable  for  a 
swarm  of  bees,  if  future  prosperity  and  gain  are  to  be 
taken  into  the  account. 

Let  us  take  a  rational  view  of  this  question.  So  far 
as  the  mere  comfort  and  convenience  of  the  swarm  is 
concerned,  during  the  first  season,  I  admit  that  hives 
of  such  size  as  the  bees  can  just  fill  with  combs,  during 
the  first  summer  of  their  existence  are  best ;  but  we 
must  look  beyond  the  first  year,  if  we  expect  the  greatest 
prosperity  that  is  attainable. 

In  the  first  place,  we  must  entirely  discard  the  idea, 
that  if  a  swarm  be  very  large  or  very  small,  at  the  time 
of  issuing  from  the  hive,  its  existence  and  prosperity  in 
succeeding  years  is  thereby  effected.  I  say  its  existence 
in  succeeding  years ;  but  I  mean  the  existence  of  suc- 
ceeding generations  of  the  same  original  family;  because, 
no  swarm  of  bees  ever  lived  through  tivo  seasons. 

In  order  to  more  fully  illustrate  this  point,  we  will 
suppose  that  A  has  a  ver}^  large  swarm  issue  from 
one  of  his  hives,  say  about  double  the  usual  numbers ; 
and  B  has  a  very  small  swarm  also  issue,  about  half  the 
usual  size.  A  obtains  a  hive  of  double  the  usual  size, 
for  his  swarm,  and  B  looks  about  for  a  very  small  hive 
for  his  swarm,  to  suit  the  bulk  of  it. 


132  miner's    AMERICAN 

The  bees  are  hived  and  they  go  to  work  freely.  At 
the  end  of  the  season,  A  finds  that  he  has  a  fine  hive  of 
bees,  with  a  good  supply  of  honey  for  winter  use,  and 
on  raising  his  hive,  he  finds  that  it  is  about  three-quarters 
filled  with  combs.  (If  you  give  a  large  swarm  double 
the  usual  room,  it  is  not  generally  all  occupied  the  first 
year.)  B  examines  his  little  family  and  finds  his  little 
hive  full  of  combs,  but  from  the  weight  of  it,  he  con- 
cludes that  he'll  have  to  feed  the  bees,  in  order  to  carry 
them  through  the  winter,  and  he  begins  to  wish  that  he 
had  not  been  to  the  trouble  of  hiving  them  at  all,  and 
almost  wishes  that  he  had  found  them  all  dead ;  since 
the  prospect  before  him,  of  feeding  his  little  family,  so 
as  to  enable  it  to  safely  pass  the  winter  looks  cheerless 
and  forbidding.  Well,  the  winter  is  past,  and  the  genial 
warmth  of  the  sunny  month  of  May,  arouses  the  bees 
to  great  activity.  The  medium-sized  hives  are  throw- 
ing off  swarms  in  profusion,  and  A  wonders  why  his 
family  in  the  large  hive  does  not  swarm  !  "  I  '11  get  a 
rouser  out  of  that  hive  when  it  does  come,"  said  A,  one 
day  to  a  neighbor.  He  might  well  say,  "when  it  does 
come  ;"  for,  if  he  had  known  anything  about  the  science 
of  bee-management,  he  might  have  known  that  a  swarm 
would  never  be  thrown  off  from  a  hive  of  such  unnatu- 
ral dimensions. 

A  watched  in  vain  for  a  swarm : — none  came  off,  and 
on  turning  up  the  hive  on  the  10th  of  June,  lo !  he  dis- 
covered that  the  bees  had  not  added  any  new  combs 
to  those  built  the  season  before,  and  there  was  yet  a 
large  space  of   spare   room    unfilled   by  them.      The 


bee-keeper's  manual.  133 

second,  third  and  fourth  seasons  passed  a\^  ay,  and  A's 
"  rouse?-"  had  not  made  its  appearance,  and  not  a  bee 
more  could  be  discovered  in  the  hive,  at  the  end  of  that 
period,  than  he  had  at  the  commencement. 

Now  for  B  and  his  family,  B  expected  one  or  two 
good  swarms  from  his  little  5  by  7  box,  but  he  found  the 
young  bees  produced  in  this  hive  were  few,  compara- 
tively, in  numbers,  and  w^hen  every  other  family  on  his 
premises  had  thrown  off  very  large  swarms,  and  some 
ten  days  beyond  this  period  had  past,  a  little  weak, 
sickly-looking  swarm  did  issue  from  this  small  hive,  and 
B  was  sent  for  in  great  haste.  After  he  had  surveyed 
it  for  a  moment,  said  he  ;  "  You  can  go.  I'm  not  going 
to  fuss  with  another  goose-egg  swarm,  and  feed  it,  to 
get  it  through  the  winter."  He  suffered  the  bees  to 
perish  on  the  branch  where  they  clustered. 

Year  after  year  past,  and  B  derived  no  manner  of 
advantage  from  his  little  hive.  It  seldom  swarmed,  and 
when  it  did  throw  one  off,  it  w^as  very  late  in  the  season, 
and  the  swarms  w^ere  so  small,  that  they  were  seldom 
hived. 

The  result  of  the  foregoing  imaginary  cases,  is  pre- 
cisely what  would  be  the  consequences,  of  such  a  course 
of  actual  management.  The  swarm  in  A's  hive  could 
not,  with  all  its  natural  increase,  so  fill  the  hive  in  the 
spring,  as  to  be  able  to  spare  a  single  bee,  since  it  is  an 
invariable  principle  of  the  bee,  to  never  suffer  emigra- 
tion, while  an  inch  of  their  domicil  remains  unfilled  with 
combs,  and  unfilled  with  bees.  Let  this  remark  be 
deeply  impressed  on  your  minds,  ye  who  know  it  not, 


134  miner's    AMERICAN 

and  much  time  and  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  swarming 
of  your  bees  maj^e  averted. 

Had  I  been  present  when  the  aforesaid  two  swarms 
of  A  and  B  issued,  I  should  have  advised  them  as  fol- 
lows :— 

Gentlemen,  by  all  means,  put  your  bees  into  the  regu- 
lar-sized hives.  Yours,  Mr.  A,  is  now  large,  and  perhaps 
3'ou  may,  during  this  very  warm  weather,  think  that  a 
common  hive  cannot  possibly  afford  room  for  them ;  but 
you  may  depend  upon  it,  that  they  will  all  find  acccomo- 
dation  therein.  They  appear  to  be  more  numerous  than 
they  really  are,  in  consequence  of  the  heat  of  the  weather 
causing  them  to  extend  in  clustering,  in  order  to  allow 
a  current  of  air  to  pass  through  them.  When  hived,  if 
you  find  a  large  portion  to  cluster  outside  the  hive,  do 
not  be  alarmed ;  the  first  few  cool  days  we  have,  will 
drive  every  bee  in,  and  next  September  you  will  ac- 
knowledge that  what  I  say  is  right. 

And  you,  Mr.  B,  do  throw  that  5  by  7  box  into  the 
fire,  I  entreat  you.  It  always  gives  me  a  fit  of  the  ague, 
to  see  the  management  of  bees  thus  butchered,  if  I  may 
be  allowed  the  use  of  that  term.  Do  get  one  of  your 
foot-square  boxes,  and  let  them  fill  such  a  portion  of  it 
as  they  can.  They  will  not  more  than  quarter  fill  it 
this  season,  but,  sir,  next  year,  you  will  have  as  good  a 
stock  of  bees  as  any  in  your  apiary.  You  may  have  to 
feed  this  swarm  a  little  in  the  fall ;  for,  small  swarms 
never  do  lay  up  much  honey,  but  when  the  time  comes 
for  feeding,!  will  inform  you  how  you  can,  for  twenty-five 
cents^  feed  them  enough  in  one  day,  to  carry  them  safely 


bee-keeper's  manual.  135 

through  the  winter,  and  then  you  will  have  a  stock  that 
will  be  worth  something. 

CHANGE    FROM    LARGE    TO    SMALL     HIVES DECEPTIVE 

APPEARANCES    OF    SWARMS,    ETC. 

When  a  bee-keeper  is  accustomed  to  use  very  large 
hives,  or  the  hollow  trunks  of  trees,  called  gums  in  some 
parts  of  the  country,  and  in  Virginia,  in  particular,  the 
swarms  are  sometimes  somewhat  larger  than  those  issu- 
ing from  the  proper-sized  hives  ;  but,  as  I  before  stated, 
if  they  pass  certain  dimensions  in  their  hives,  they  sel- 
dom get  any  swarms  at  all ;  and  when  such  large 
swarms  do  issue,  if  the  weather  be  very  warm,  the  bees 
extend  so  much,  in  order  to  allow  the  air  to  circulate 
among  them,  when  in  a  cluster,  that  it  is  thought  impos- 
sible to  hive  them  in  boxes  12  inches  square.  I  have 
been  written  to  on  this  subject,  from  various  parts  of  the 
country,  by  those  who  have  made  use  of  hives  that  I 
have  recommended,  and  the  complaint  was,  that  their 
swarms  were  so  large  that  hives  of  my  size  could  not 
afford  the  bees  room ;  and  in  some  instances,  the  bees 
deserted  them.  To  persons  thus  circumstanced,  I 
answer,  that  appearances  are  very  deceptive  sometimes 
in  hiving  a  swarm  of  bees.  A  moderate-sized  swarm, 
in  a  very  warm  day,  appears  much  larger  than  it  would 
on  a  cool  day  ;  and  when  a  swarm  enters  a  hive  during 
very  warm  weather  the  bees  find  the  atmosphere  within 
insupportable,  and  a  large  portion  of  them  are  compelled 
to  cluster  on  the  outside  of  the  hive,  until  the  combs  are 
so  far  advanced  as  to  protect  the  interior  of  the  hive  to 


136  miner's    AMERICAN 

some  extent.  On  such  occasions,  should  the  hive  be 
raised,  it  might  appear  to  be  filled  with  a  solid  mass  of 
bees,  when,  in  reality,  not  half  of  an  ordinary  swarm 
are  there.  The  deception  is  produced  by  the  bees 
clustering  on  each  side,  within  the  hive,  and  then  throw- 
ing a  sheet  of  bees  across  the  bottom,  connected  with 
festoons  of  bees  from  the  top  of  the  hive.  In  such 
cases,  almost  the  whole  of  the  interior  of  the  hive  is  an 
open,  unoccupied  space.  I  have  often  witnessed  this 
delusion,  and  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  bee-keepers  would 
suppose  that  the  hive  was  filled  to  a  perfect  jain.  This 
case  often  occurs  when  a  large  body  of  bees  cluster 
outside ;  and  one  would  say  that  it  was  utterly  im- 
possible that  the  hive  could  afford  sufficient  room  for  the 
whole  family  ;  but  let  the  weather  change — -let  the  wind 
veer  around  to  the  north,  and  let  the  sun  be  shut  out  by 
cold,  damp  clouds,  and  presto  !  what  a  change  !  Why, 
a  person  not  in  the  secret,  would  say  positively,  that 
half  of  his  bees .  had  deserted  their  tenement !  Instead 
of  a  hive  full  to  overflowing,  a  snug,  compact,  moderate- 
sized  swarm,  is  closely  formed  in  the  top  of  the  hive, 
through  which  the  white  tips  of  a  row  of  beautiful 
pearly  combs  appear. 

Bee-keepers  should,  in  very  warm  weather,  be  particu- 
lar in  shading  the  hives  of  new  swarms  fully  and  effec- 
tually, and  in  case  of  having  swarms  that  appear  to  be 
hard  pressed  for  room,  an  abundance  of  fresh  air  should 
be  admitted  at  the  bottom  of  the  hive — even  raise 
it  on  blocks,  at  each  corner,  one  inch  high.  This 
proceeding  will  prevent  the  bees  from  clustering  on  the 


BEE-KEEPERS    MANUAL.  137 

outside  of  the  hive,  and  when  the  bees  have  been  at 
work  about  a  week,  the  blocks  at  the  corners  may  be 
removed,  and  the  hive  lowered  down  to  its  proper  po- 
sition. 

I  cannot,  however,  say  that  cases  may  not  happen 
in  which  all  of  my  prescribed  rules  will  avail  nothing. 
I  refer  to  cases  where  two,  and  even  three  different 
swarms  issue  at  the  same  time,  and  cluster  together  on 
the  same  branch.  In  such  cases,  if  the  apiarian  be  not 
present  when  the  bees  swarm,  he  very  reasonably  con- 
cludes, that  the  whole  mass  is  but  one  large  swarm. 
Hives  12  inches  square  are  of  no  use  in  such  cases ; 
that  is,  for  the  whole  of  them  together,  neither  is  any 
hive  suitable  for  the  whole  of  them.  They  should  be 
divided,  and  the  way  to  do  that  will  be  developed,  when 
I  come  to  a  chapter  on  "  swarming." 

DR.  BEVAn's  opinion   ON  THE  SIZE  OF  HIVES. 

That  no  portion  of  my  readers  may  think  that  I  am 
decidedly  WTong  in  recommending  hives  so  small  as  one 
foot  square,  in  the  clear,  I  here  quote  a  few  remarks 
of  Dr.  Be  van,  an  English  writer  on  the  honey-bee,  whose 
work  was  re-published  in  this  country  some  years  ago, 
and  circulated  to  a  considerable  extent. 

He  says  :  "  In  a  former  edition  of  this  work,  a  prefer- 
ence was  given  to  those  of  Keys,  but  subsequent  infor- 
mation and  experience  induce  me  to  recommend  their 
diameter  to  be  three-eighths  of  an  inch  less  than  his, 
viz  :  eleven  and  jive-eighths'  inches  square,  by  nine 
inches  deep  in  the  clear." 


138 


MINER  S  AMERICAN 


Here  we  have  hives  recommended  more  than  one- 
quarter  less  in  size  than  those  that  I  recommend. 

I  have  had  several  of  Dr.  Bevan's  hives,  or  such  as 
appear  in  his  work,  engraved,  and  I  shall  lay  them  be- 
fore the  reader ;  not  that  I  approve  of  them  at  all,  but 
being  the  nearest  approximation  to  hives  in  use  in  the 
United  States,  and,  perhaps,  identical  with  many  in  use 
in  this  country,  I  think  it  expedient  to  comment  on  their 
qualities,  in  order  to  cover  the  whole  area  of  my  subject, 
or  so  much  of  it  as  is  practicable. 


bevan's  cross-bar  hive. 

The  above  engraving  represents  what  is  termed  a 
cross-bar  hive.  The  object  of  this  kind  of  hive  is  to 
guide  the  bees  in  their  comb-building ;  that  combs  may 
be  more  regularly  constructed,  thus  affording  more 
brood-combs  than  are  generally  built,  when  the  bees  are 
left  to  themselves,  and  less  irregularities  in  their  archi- 
tecture. It  is  intended,  that  the  bees  shall  construct 
their  combs  on  the  bars.  The  centre  bars  are  placed 
suitably  for  brood-comb,  and  the  outside  bars  are  wider 
apart,  and  adapted  to  store-combs.  This  is  all  very 
well,  provided  the  bees  will  follow  these  bars ;  but  they 
will   not.      They  must  have  one  or   two  guide-combs 


bee-keeper's  manual.  139 

attached,  before  they  will  follow  the  bars  at  all ;  and 
with  this  trouble  on  the  part  of  the  bee-keeper,  not  half 
of  the  time,  will  the  bees  pay  the  least  regard  to  the 
bars,  but  will  build  combs  directly  across  or  transversely, 
and  every  other  way  that  can  be  imagined. 

This  kind  of  hive  is  entirely  too  complicated  for  gene- 
ral use  in  this  country,  as  well  as  scores  of  other  kinds 
that  I  shall  not  condescend  to  notice.  It  is  entirely 
useless  to  attempt  to  introduce  into  general  use, 
any  kind  of  hive,  but  such  as  is  easily  and  cheaply 
made,  and  that  does  not  require  an  engineer  to  put  in 
order  and  oversee,  as  many  of  the  gim-cracks  of  the 
present  day  do.  The  bee  requires  the  simplest  tene- 
m.ent,  and  many  of  the  screws,  valves,  &c.,  now  in  use, 
are  but  hindrances  to  her  natural  prosperity.  Let  it 
not  be  understood  that  I  would  cast  any  imputation  on 
Dr.  Bevan,  by  the  above  remarks.  The  foregoing  hive 
is  not  of  his  invention,  although  it  was  copied  from  his 
book. 

I  will  let  Dr.  Bevan  tell  his  own  story  relative  to  ad- 
justing the  bars,  &c.,  of  his  hive. 

He  says :  "  The  sides  of  the  boxes  should  be  an  inch 
thick,  and  have  the  upper  edges  of  the  fronts  and  backs 
rabbeted  out  half  their  thickness,  and  half  an  inch  deep, 
to  receive  a  set  of  loose  bars  upon  their  tops,  which 
should  be  half  an  inch  thick,  one  and  one-eighth  of  an 
inch  wide,  and  seven  in  number.  If  the  distances  of  the 
bars  from  eacli  other  be  nicely  adjusted,  there  will  be 
inter-spaces  between  them  of  about  half  an  inch.  The 
precise  width  of  the  bars  should  be  particularly  attended 


140  miner's    AMERICAN 

to,  and  also  their  distances  from  each  other ;  as  any  de- 
viations in  this  respect,  would  throw  the  combs  wrong, 
particularly  if  that  deviation  gave  an  excess  of  room. 
It  would  be  better,  therefore,  for  them  to  be  somewhat 
within  the  rule,  than  to  exceed  it  by  ever  so  little,  for 
whenever  the  bees  evince  a  disposition  to  depart  from 
the  prescribed  dimensions,  its  tendency  is  generally  to 
make  the  combs  approximate.  This  has  induced  me  to 
have  my  boxes  surmounted  by  bars  varying  a  little  in 
their  relative  distance,  thus :  the  three  centre  bars  are 
placed  at  the  distance  of  only  seven-sixteenths  of  an 
inch  from  each  other,  while  the  rest  gradually  recede 
from  that  distance,  so  that  the  two  last  inter-spaces  on 
either  side  of  the  box,  are  nine-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in 
width.  The  same  precision  must  be  observed  in  the 
length  of  the  bars,  as  it  is  of  great  importance  to  have 
them  indiscriminately  applicable  to  every  box;  and  in 
case  the  joiner  should  exceed  the  specified  dimensions 
of  a  box,  the  extra  space  must  be  thrown  to  its  sides." 

After  these  bars  are  adjusted,  a  cover  is  placed  on  the 
hive,  of  the  usual  thickness,  and  screwed  down,  so  as  to 
admit  of  being  taken  off  at  any  time.  Through  this 
cover,  a  hole  may  be  made  some  three  inches  square,  and 
a  super  placed  thereon,  as  in  other  cases. 

He  claims  this  advantage  in  this  hive  over  ordinary 
ones  ;  that  at  any  time  a  leaf  of  comb  may  be  withdrawn, 
and  in  this  manner  the  surplus  honey  is  obtained,  or 
from  the  supers  as  may  be  desirable.  Let  those  try  this 
hive  who  choose,  it  is  not  very  expensive  ;  but  I  must 
say,  that  I  can  see  nothing  valuable  about  it. 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL. 


141 


fn  regard  to  causing  the  bees  to  build  their  combs 
with  regularity,  it  is  truly  important  to  devise  some 
method  to  produce  such  a  result,  and  the  only  effectual 
method  that  can  be  practiced  without  trouble,  will  be 
given  when  I  come  to  speak  of  my  own  hives,  or  such 
as  wei'e  planned  by  me. 

I  condemn  Dr.  Bevan's  hive,  on  account  of  its  bars, 
and  also  on  account  of  its  size.  Put  three  inches  more 
on  its  depth  and  take  out  the  bars,  and  it  would  then 
answer  the  purpose  very  well. 


SUBTENDED  HIVE. 

Here  is  a  cut  of  a  kind  of  hive  that  is  in  use  to  some 
extent  in  this  country.  This  is  also  from  Bevan's  work ; 
and  the  size  of  each  box  is  presumed  to  be  the  same  as 
the  bar-hive,  viz :  eleven  and  five-eighths  inches  deep, 
by  nine  inches  wide.  Through  the  two  lower  boxes, 
holes  about  four  inches  square  are  cut,  with  a  slide  to 


142  miner's    AMERICAN 

shut  off  the  opening  when  the  supers  are  not  placed  in 

position.  The  doors  in  front  open  to  admit  the  apia- 
rian to  observe,  through  a  pane  of  glass,  the  operations 
of  the  bees.  These  glass  windows  may  be  dispensed 
with,  if  one  choose  to  do  so.  The  opening  or  entrance 
for  the  bees,  as  seen  in  front,  was  not  in  the  original 
drawing  of  this  hive,  in  Bevan's  work,  but  I  have  placed 
it  there  as  essential,  as  the  reader  will  hereafter  observe. 
The  glass  windows  may  be  in  front  or  in  the  rear  of  the 
hives,  according  to  the  desire  of  the  apiarian.  If  the 
hives  be  placed  against  a  fence  or  wall,  they  should  be 
in  front;  but  should  there.be  a  passage-way  between 
the  hives  and  such  fence  or  wall,  then  the  doors  should 
be  on  the  backs  of  the  hives,  in  order  to  observe  the 
labors  of  the  bees,  without  the  least  disturbance  of  them. 
There  is  a  hive  on  this  principle  now  in  use  in  some 
part  of  New  Jersey,  and  perhaps  in  other  States  also, 
with  which  some  savan  is  deluding  the  good  people,  by 
causing  them  to  believe  that  it  is  original,  and  the  very 
best  hive  in  existence,  of  course. 

HOBBY  OF  A  PORTION  OF  THE  ITINERANT  BEE-HIVE 
VENDERS. 

The  hobby  of  a  portion  of  the  itinerant  bee-hive  ven 
ders  of  the  United  States  is,  "an  easy  method  of  7'enew 
ing  the  combs  every  third  year."  The  idea  has  struck  a 
few  of  those  geniuses,  that  in  consequence  of  the  difficulty 
to  the  inexperienced  bee-keeper  attending  the  transfer 
or  change  of  families  of  bees,  from  old  to  new  hives, 
when  the  combs  have  become  blackened  and  vitiated 


BEE-KEEPER  S  MANUAL.  143 

from  several  years'  use,  that  if  anything  could  be  "got 
up"  that  would  obviate  the  necessity  of  such  a  change, 
even  if  it  ruined  every  other  principle  of  correct  man- 
agement, money  could  be  made  by  the  operation,  before 
the  bauble  would  burst.  This,  of  course,  is  a  gratuitous 
assertion;  yet  I  may,  perhaps,  be  able  to  "look  as  far 
into  a  mill-stone,"  as  any  man. 

TWO  KINDS  OF  SUBTENDED  HIVES. 

There  are  two  kinds  of  these  "  subtended  "  humbuo;s 
now  offered  to  bee-keepers  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York, 
and  to  what  extent  they  are  used,  I  cannot  say. 
One  kind  is  on  the  principle  of  the  foregoing  cut,  as  I 
before  stated,  and  the  other  only  varies  from  the  first, 
in  substituting  drawers,  that  slide  in  and  out  in  a  frame. 
The  size  of  these  drawers  is  somewhat  smaller,  I  think, 
than  the  boxes  that  are  placed  over  each  other  ;  yet  the 
•pHnciple  is  the  same. 

RULES  FOR  MANAGEMENT  IN  SUBTENDED  HIVES. 

The  rules  for  management  in  the  foregoing  hives,  as 
I  have  it  from  those  bee-keepers  who  have  purchased 
them  is,  that  the  bees  are  hived  in  the  lower  box,  and 
when  this  is  filled,  add  a  second,  and  if  that  be  also 
filled,  then  add  a  tliird  box.  If  all  be  filled  with 
combs  and  honey,  then  at  the  proper  season,  the  two 
upper  boxes  may  be  removed,  and  the  bees  expelled 
therefrom  to  return  to  the  lower  one,  where  the  whole 
family  should  pass  the  winter.  This  is  all  very  well  in 
theory,  and  even  in  practice,  the  first  and  second  years ; 


144  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

but  we  shall  meet  with  this  damper  to  our  fond  hopes, — 
an  ordinary  swarm  will  not  in  one  case  in  ten,  go  be- 
yond the  first  box,  during  the  first  season,  if  they  mea- 
sure about  nine  inches  by  twelve.  If  they  be  smaller 
than  this,  they  will  aScend  to  upper  ones  ;  but  there  is 
ruin  in  hives  under  the  above-named  size,  in  the  sequel, 
as  I  think  I  shall  fully  show. 

In  speaking  of  swarms  entering  supers  or  boxes  above 
the  one  in  which  they  are  hived  during  the  first  season, 
and  working  therein,  I  would  observe,  that  in  different 
parts  of  the  country,  the  labors  of  bees  vary  accord- 
ing to  the  bee-pasturage  about  them.  In  a  location 
where  the  white  clover  (TrifoHum  repens)  abounds  pro- 
fusely, as  in  Herkimer  county,  State  of  New  York,  and 
some  other  great  grazing  counties,  a  swarm  will  produce 
much  more  honey  and  wax,  than  on  Long  Island,  where 
the  honey  harvest  is  not  so  abundant. 

We  now  return  to  our  "  subtended "  hive ;  and  we 
will  suppose  that  three  years  have  past,  and  we  now 
wish  to  change  our  stock  or  family,  into  a  new  tene- 
ment, the  old  combs  having  existed  long  enough  ;  an- 
other year,  however,  would  not  affect  the  prosperity  of 
the  bees,  according  to  my  experience. 

Well,  how  is  this  change  or  transfer  to  be  made  ?  In 
the  first  place,  you  remove  the  box  containing  the  bees 
far  enough  to  admit  of  an  empty  one  to  occupy  its  posi- 
tion. You  then  remove  the  slide  of  the  empty  one,  and 
set  ihe  full  one  over  it.  We  will  suppose  that  this  ope- 
ration is  performed  sometime  during  the  month  of  April. 
The  bees  soon  begin  to  increase  rapidly,  and  when  the 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  145 

original  box  becomes  crowded,  they  descend  and  com- 
mence their  labors  in  the  lower  one,  having  from  the 
beginning,  to  pass  through  the  lower  box,  to  and  from 
the  hive.  During  the  season,  the  lower  one  is  filled 
with  combs  and  bees,  and  if  the  hives  be  quite  small, 
perhaps  a  third  may  also  be  filled,  which  may  be 
placed  on  the  top,  or  the  top  one  may  be  raised,  when 
two  boxes  only  are  in  use,  and  the  third  placed  in  the 
centre. 

October  arrives,  and  the  two  upper  hives  may  be 
removed,  and  the  bees  driven  out,  which  will  return  to 
the  hottom  box,  where  they  are  to  winter  as  before 
stated.  The  honey  in  the  two  supers  removed,  is  the 
owner's  gain.  These  supers  may  be  removed  before 
October,  even  as  early  as  the  first  of  August,  at  which 
time,  the  combs  will  be  much  whiter,  and  the  honey 
better.  An  empty  box  may  then  be  placed  on  the  first, 
provided  that  the  bees  are  crowded,  and  if  any  farther 
harvest  may  be  expected.  In  the  vicinity  of  New  York, 
the  honey-harvest  is  entirely  past  at  this  period,  save 
what  little  the  bees  may  gather  for  their  daily  supply. 

Now  we  come  to  the  grand  "  hobby," — the  great  dis- 
covery !  The  bees  are  now  in  a  hive  with  new  combs ! — 
just  what  is  desired,  and  no  trouble  at  all!  No  smoking 
out !  No  driving  or  whipping  out !  The  bee-keeper  is 
in  extacies !  Presently  comes  along  the  great  inventor 
himself — "  Mr.  Genius,  why,  how  do  you  do  ?  Let  me 
put  your  horse  in  the  stable,  and  you  come  in  and  stay 
with  me,  to-night.  You  must  come. — John,  put  Mr, 
7 


146  miner's    AMERICAN 

Genius'  horse  in  the  stable — brush  him  down — water 
and  feed  him. 

Mr.  Genius  passes  the  night  with  our  extatic  friend, 
tallvs  over  the  astonishing  merits  of  his  invention,  and 
when  they  part  in  the  morning,  Mr.  Bee-keeper  bids 
him  farewell,  adding,  "you're  a  lucky  man,  your  for- 
tune's made !" 

A  few  days  subsequent  to  this  occurrence,  a  gentle- 
man passing  that  way,  called  at  Mr.  Bee-keeper's  door 
to  ask  the  favor  of  a  glass  of  cool  water,  Mr.  Bee- 
keeper was  standing  at  his  well,  and  had  just  raised  a 
bucket  of  water.  "  Certainly,"  replied  he,  "  water  is  as 
free  as  air." 

"  You  have  a  fine  apiary,  sir, — some  patent  hives,  I 
presume." 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  they  can't  be  beat." 

"  Pray,  sir  allow  me  to  examine  them  ;  I  have  spent 
much  time  in  studying  the  history  and  economy  of  the 
bee,  and  there  is  nothing  that  attracts  my  attention  so 
quickly  as  a  bee-garden." 

"  With  pleasure,  come  in,  and  I'll  show  you  my  '  sub- 
tended '  hive ; — one  of  the  greatest  inventions  of  the 
age!" 

"  I  think  I  have  seen  the  same  kind  before.  If  I  mis- 
take not,  every  third  year  you  can  change  your  bees 
from  old  to  new  combs." 

"  Exactly  so,  sir ;  and  here's  a  hive  changed  in  that 
manner.  Last  spring  the  old  combs  of  this  hive  were 
as  black  as  your  hat,  and  now  see,  (turning  up  the  hive,) 
what  beautiful  white  combs  they  have !" 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  147 

"Just  SO,  sir,  but  pardon  my  familiarity — there  are 
some  things  connected  with  this  change,  that  will  sooner 
or  later  ruin  your  bees !" 

"  Ah  !  (looking  serious,)  indeed  !  Ruin  the  bees,  do 
you  say  ?" 

"  Yes,  ruin  them — destroy  them — annihilate  them  !" 

"Mercy  on  me  !  are  you  sure." 

"  Aye !  positive." 

"Pray,  sir,  what  is  it  ?" 

"  Look  here  !  (turning  up  the  hive,)  do  you  see  these 
thick,  irregular  combs." 

"  I  do." 

"  You  are  aware  that  such  combs  are  unfit  for  breed- 
ing?" 

"  For  breeding  ? — why,  yes — no,  don't  know  as  I  am." 

"  Well,  sir,  not  a  solitary  bee  will  ever  be  produced 
in  these  combs.  There  are  one,  two,  three,  yes,  three, 
and  perhaps  four  combs  in  this  hive,  that  the  eggs  of  the 
queen  may  be  deposited  in.  They  are  these  thin,  regu- 
lar combs  that  you  perceive  in  the  centi-e  of  the  hive, 
which  are  called  brood-combs.  The  others  are  sto7'e- 
combs,  and  are  only  made  for  the  reception  of  honey. 
Next  spring,  the  queen  will  do  what  she  can  to  increase 
her  family ;  but  she  must  be  restricted  to  three  or  four 
combs,  or  parts  of  combs,  for  none  of  them  appear  to  be 
of  a  regular  shape,  as  they  should  be ;  and  her  increase 
will  not  equal  one  half  the  number  that  she  would  pro- 
duce, if  she  had  a  hive  filled  with  the  proper  combs. 
Where  is  the  hive  that  they  were  in  last  season  ?" 

"  Here  it  is,  with  the  combs  undisturbed." 


148  miner's    AMERICAN 

"  Now,  do  you  perceive  how  regular  each  comb  is 
constructed, — ^just  so  far  apart,  and  every  comb  about 
one  inch  thick.  Every  comb  here  would  be  used  by 
the  queen,  and  three  times  as  many  bees  would  be 
brought  into  existence  in  this  hive  as  in  that.  Here  are 
the  drone-combs  on  one  side,  a  little  thicker  than  the 
worker-combs.  Let  us  examine  the  other  hive. — Not 
a  single  drone-comb !" 

"  Well,  now,  I  will  give  up.  I  thought  that  I  had  got 
a  kind  of  hive  that  would  be  just  the  thing.  Ah  !  well, 
it's  of  no  use  to  try  any  of  the  new  inventions,  now- 
a-days.  I  see,  sir,  what  you  say  mjist  be  so — I  see — I 
see." 

"Well,  that  is  not  all,  sir,  I'll  lay  a  wager  there  is  no 
queen  in  this  hive." 

"No  queen?" 

"  Aye  !  no  queen." 

"  What  next ! — John  !  John  !  (calling  at  the  top  of 
his  lungs,)  if  you  see  old  '  Genius'  go  past  to  day,  tell 
him  I  want  to  see  him.  Don't  let  him  go  past,  anyhow. 
Now,  sir,  be  so  good  as  to  tell  me — what  was  it  ?  Oh ! 
the — the  queen,  that's  it — the  queen — No  queen,  did  you 
say  ?" 

"Exactly  so.  You  see  that  these  bees  are  not  at 
work  bringing  in  pellets  of  farina,  or  what  you  call  hee- 
hread.  That  hive  is  not  so.  See  how  busy  they  are  ! 
There  come  half  a  dozen  with  farina  at  once;  but 
you  see  nothing  of  that  here.  The  fact  is,  sir,  that 
when  you  took  off  the  two  upper  boxes,  the  queen  was 
in  one  of  them,  and  on  being  driven  out  of  the  box  with 


bee-heeper's  manual.  149 

the  rest  of  the  bees,  she  was  lost,  not  being  accustomed 
to  going  out  like  workers,  she  did  not  know  the  position 
of  the  hive  where  she  ought  to  have  entered.  Queens 
are  Hable  to  be  lost  in  this  way,  since  they  go  out  but 
once  during  life-time,  and  then  they  mark  carefully  the 
appearance  and  position  of  their  hive.  She  probably 
entered  the  wrong  hive  and  was  killed  by  the  queen  be- 
longing to  it." 

"  Astonishing  !  What  a  fool  I  am !  Are  the  queens 
always  in  the  upper  boxes  ?" 

"  Not  by  any  means.  The  queen  passes  from  one 
box  to  another,  and  always  makes  it  her  home  where 
the  greatest  portion  of  brood-combs  exist ;  consequently, 
she  draws  the  most  of  the  bees  after  her,  if  there  be 
room  for  them.  The  hive  that  you  just  showed  me 
filled  with  brood-combs,  she  was  in  undoubtedly." 

"But  they  say,  that  if  a  queen  is  lost,  it  makes  no 
difference  ;  that  the  bees  will  make  another  queen." 

"  That  is  true,  if  the  bees  have  anything  in  the  hive  to 
make  a  queen  from.  They  want  eggs  or  larvae  under 
four  days  old.  There  were  both  eggs  and  larvae  in  the 
hive  where  she  made  her  residence,  without  doubt ;  but 
it  is  very  doubtful  whether  any  were  in  either  of  the 
other  boxes,  so  late  as  October,  when  you  drove  out  the 
bees,  and  there  would  be  no  positive  safety  in  perform- 
ing that  operation,  even  in  August  or  September,  for 
the  reason,  that  there  would  ever  be  the  uncertainty  of 
having  eggs  or  larvae  as  before  stated ;  and  if  they 
should  happen  to  be  left  in  the  lower  box,  and  a  queen 
should  be  made,  then  she  is  to  be  impregnated  by  the 


150  miner's    AMERICAN 

drones,  and  if  no  drones  exist,  how  is  that  to  be  ef- 
fected." 

"  I  see !  I  see !  You  talk  hke  a  book.  Fve  6een 
humbugged,  and  no  mistake !" 

The  reader  will  excuse  the  foregoing  digression  from  the 
regular  train  of  my  remarks  on  "  subtended"  hives,  since 
an  illustration  of  this  kind  is  often  more  forcible  than 
can  be  given  in  any  other  manner. 

The  "  subtended"  hive  that  I  was  speaking  of,  having 
drawers,  operates  in  all  its  ramifications  like  the  hive 
just  described. 

CASE  IN  WHICH  TWO  OR  MORE  BOXES  MAY  BE  USED. 

I  have  no  objections  to  the  use  of  two  or  three  boxes 
together,  provided  that  the  lower  one  be  about  one  foot 
square  in  the  clear  ;  in  which  case,  as  many  boxes  above 
as  you  please  may  be  used ;  but  one  is  as  many  as  will 
be  filled  generally,  and  not  even  that  in  many  parts  of 
the  country,  if  it  contain  over  twenty  or  twenty-five 
pounds  of  honey.  I  hear  of  two  hives,  or  boxes,  each 
one  foot  square,  being  used  in  the  western'  part  of  the 
state  of  New  York,  near  Buffalo,  with  success.  The 
family  winters  in  one,  and  in  the  spring  it  is  supered  by 
the  empty  one  which  is  generally  filled  full  during  the 
season,  affording  from  forty  to  sixty  pounds  of  honey. 

I  disapprove  of  transferring  the  family  by  a  change  of 
boxes,  in  order  to  place  the  stock  in  hives  with  new 
combs,  as  before  illustrated.  This  course,  I  contend,  is 
absolutely  ruinous  to  the  prosperity  of  the  bees,  in 
placing   them    in   hives   filled  with   combs,  not  at   all 


I5EE-Kt:EPEK':S    MANUAL.  151 

adapted  to  breeding ;  and  where  the  natural  increase  of 
the  bees  is  prevented,  the  prosperity  of  tiie  family  is  at 
an  end.  My  method  of  effecting  this  change  is  by 
driving  out,  and  it  is  attended  by  no  difficulty  whatever, 
and  I  consider  it  the  only  way  that  it  can  be  done  safely. 

REMARKS    ON  SUPER  AND  NADIR^    HIVING. 

The  reason  why  the  combs  built  in  a  box  placed  un 
der  or  above  the  main  hive,  are  not  fit  for  a  pennanent 
residence  of  the  bees,  is,  that  the  bees  in  ascending  into 
a  super,  look  upon  such  space  in  the  light  of  a  store- 
room, and  the  combs  built  in  such  places  are  almost 
always  thick,  and  especially  adapted  to  the  storage  of 
honey  ;  being  constructed  in  all  manner  of  thickness  and 
shapes.  The  same  may  be  said  of  hives  placed  under 
the  family  to  a  certain  extent.  There  is  not  so  great  a 
deviation  from  regular  brood-combs,  in  hives  placed  un- 
der, as  in  those  placed  over  the  family ;  yet  the  devia- 
tion is  enough  to  render  such  hives  unfit  for  a  permanent 
abode.  The  bees,  when  originally  hived,  are  actuated 
by  certain  fixed  principles  in  the  construction  of  their 
combs, — the  production  of  hrood-comhs  always  being  the 
most  prominent,  since  their  prosperity  lies  wholly  in  the 
certainty  of  a  rapid  and  extensive  increase.  But  when 
bees  are  driven  from  their  usual  habitation  into  hives 
immediately  connected  therewith,  or  rather,  when  such 
extra  room  is  afforded  them,  they  take  possession  of  it, 
and  if  there  be  a  surplus  population  in  the  main  hive,  a 
portion  of  the  bees  will  commence  comb-building  in 
*  A  hive  placed  uruUr  ihe  stock. 


152  miner's    AMERICAN 

such  extra  space  tendered  them  ;  and,  as  I  before  stated, 
they  will  regard  such  room  as  a  space  for  laying  up  their 
winter  stores ;  paying  but  little  regard  to  the  form  and 
thickness  of  their  combs,  and  disregarding  the  building 
of  brood-combs,  in  some  instances  entirely.  This  is 
perfectly  natural,  and  proper  that  they  should  do  so; 
since  the  idea  that  their  home,  or  main  tenement,  is  to 
be  taken  away,  and  they  driven  out,  never  enters  their 
craniums.  Having  already  constructed  all  the  brood- 
combs  that  the  queen  can  use,  what  necessity  have  they 
for  more  ?  The  regular  drone-cells,  so  important  to  the 
welfare  of  every  family,  or  of  its  descendants,  in  supers 
and  nadirs  are  disregarded.  It  is  true  that  their  store- 
combs  are  built  in  cells  of  the  ordinary  size  of  drone- 
cells  ;  but  they  are  not  suited  to  the  raising  of  drones^ 
by  any  means.  Some  of  said  combs  measuring  three 
inches  in  diameter,  while  a  regular  drone-comb  is  not  far 
from  one  inch  thick.  There  may  be  instances  in  which 
the  combs  in  a  nadir  may  be  built  with  considerable  re- 
gularity ;  yet  to  trust  to  such  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
bees  a  change  of  combs,  once  in  three  or  four  years,  is  a 
mistaken  fallacy. 

Again,  we  are  subjected  to  the  loss  of  the  queen,  as  I 
have  already  shown  ;  and  I  was  recently  informed  by  a 
gentleman,  who  had  practiced  this  method  of  change,  on 
his  being  made  acquainted  with  my  objections  to  the 
plan,  that  he  had  no  doubt  that  he  had  destroyed  the 
queens  to  his  hives,  in  the  aforesaid  manner,  several 
times ;  but  that  he  should  never  have  known  what  the 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL. 


153 


difficulty  was  with  them,  had  not  my  remarks  opened 
his  eyes  to  the  true  state  of  the  case. 


BOX-HIVE    AND    SUPER. 

Above  I  give  a  cut  of  a  hive  well  suited  for  general 
use  ;  and  especially  for  the  use  of  those  bee-keepers  who 
have  not  the  means  to  construct  hives,  that  do  not  come 
within  the  most  economical  prices.  This  hive  is  made 
of  pine  boards,  one  inch  thick.  The  lower  section  is 
entirely  separate  from  the  upper  one.  Its  dimensions 
are  twelve  inches  square,  in  the  clear.  The  top  board, 
or  cover,  projects  a  little  to  render  it  easier  to  carry, 
when  filled.  A  couple  of  sticks,  about  a  half  an  inch 
thick,  are  crossed  in  the  hive,  running  from  the  corners 
to  each  opposite  corner,  and  put  in  the  centre  of  the 
hive,  or  as  near  it  as  may  be.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  every  other  hive  here  described. 

Nothing  remains  to  be  done  now  but  to  make  the  ap- 


154  miner's    AMERICAN 

pertures  in  the  top  for  the  bees  to  pass  through  into  the 
box  above,  when  the  upper  box  is  on.  I  use  an  inch 
and  a  quarter  bit,  and  makej^ue  holes;  one  in  the  cen- 
tre, and  one  about  half  way  from  the  centre  to  each 
corner,  always  being  sure  that  all  the  holes  will  come 
within  the  diameter  of  the  super,  and  have  some  space 
to  spare.  These  holes  I  stop  with  plugs  made  to  nicely 
fit,  and  leave  the  ends  out  far  enough  to  take  hold  of, 
and  with  a  slight  tap  of  the  hammer,  be  able  to  remove 
them  at  pleasure.  I  allow  them  to  reach  through  the 
thickness  of  the  cover,  or  top  of  the  hive,  but  no  farther. 
They  should  be  m*ie  to  fit  so  close,  that  water  will  not 
pass  into  the  hive,  through  the  holes  when  plugged. 

The  super,  or  upper  box,  I  construct  of  the  same  di- 
ameter as  the  lower  one,  but  only  eight  inches  deep,  in- 
stead of  twelve,  the  depth  of  the  lower  box.  I  allow  the 
top  board  of  this  also  to  project  a  little,  say  an  inch. 
The  looks  of  the  hive  is  much  improved  by  this  projec- 
tion, and  the  boxes  are  removed  from  place  to  place, 
when  necessary,  much  more  easily.  When  I  put  a 
swarm  into  the  lower  box,  I  generally  leave  off  the  upper 
one  during  the  first  season,  because  here  on  Long  Island, 
the  bees  generally  have  as  much  as  they  can  do  the  first 
season  to  fill  the  lower  one ;  but  in  many  places,  both 
boxes  would  be  easily  filled.  The  spring  following,  I 
unstop  the  holes  and  put  on  the  super.  As  the  bees  in- 
crease they  enter  it,  and  by  swarming  time  I  generally 
find  it  half  filled  with  combs,  and  sometimes  quite  filled, 
and  the  bees  densely  packed  within  it.  When  a  swarm 
goes  oflf,  the  super  is  emptied  of  its  bees,  and  sometimes 


bee-keeper's  manual.  155 

of  its  honey,  as  I  alluded  to  previously.  I  do  not  find 
these  supers  to  prevent  swarming,  unless  it  be  second 
and  third  swarms.  I  generally  get  one  good  swarm, 
and  sometimes  two.  I  consider  that  one  good  swarm  is 
^nough,  and  better  than  more. 

The  foregoing  hive,  it  will  be  seen,  stands  on  a  stool 
about  18  inches  from  the  ground.  This  stool  will  be 
fully  described  when  I  speak  of  "  bee-stands,"  in  an  es- 
pecial chapter  on  that  subject. 

The  reader  may  observe,  that  this  hive  rests  on  small 
pins  or  legs  at  the  corners ;  giving  the  bees  an  oppor- 
tunity of  entering,  and  sallying  forth  on  every  side  of 
the  hive.  This  is  one  of  the  fundamental  principles  of 
my  management,  which  I  discussed  in  the  American 
Agriculturist,  during  the  years  1846, '47  and '48;  to- 
gether with  much  other  matter,  as  some  of  my  readers 
may  recollect.  The  way  in  which  these  hives  may 
be  raised  is,  by  driving  pieces  of  stout  wire  as  thick 
as  a  pipe-stem,  into  the  corners  of  the  hives,  so  as  to 
leave  just  three-eighths  of  an  inch  of  the  pin  projecting 
from  the  wood.  The  ends  of  the  pins  should  be  filed  oflf 
smooth,  or  nearly  so,  that  the  weight  of  the  hive  may 
bear  alike  on  all  corners,  and  not  sink  any  one  part  into 
the  wood  beyond  another.  These  pins  will  support  ten 
times  the  weight  of  the  hive,  without  sinking  into  the 
bottom-board,  if  the  ends  be  flattened. 

The  reason  why  such  iron  pins  are  recommended 
is,  that  the  smaller  the  pin,  the  less  liability  there  is 
of  the  moth-worm,  that  leaves  the  combs  in  the  spring 
of   the    year,   to  find    a   convenient    place    to   wind 


156  MINERS    AMERICAN 

up  in  a  cocoon,  or  return  back  to  the  combs,  when 
once  precipitated  upon  the  floor-board.  If  wooden 
blocks  should  be  used  at  the  corners,  these  worms  would 
be  more  apt  to  run  up  into  the  hive  again,  by  the  way 
of  these  blocks,  than  by  the  way  of  the  iron  pins ;  and 
I  have  often  found  the  moth-worm  wound  up  in  its  co- 
coon, in  the  corners  made  by  such  small  blocks  of  wood, 
say  half  an  inch  long  and  three-eighths  of  an  inch  thick, 
being  inserted  under  hives ;  yet  such  blocks  may  be 
used  when  it  is  not  convenient  to  get  the  pins.  Even 
nails  or  screws  would  do ;  yet  I  can  recommend  nothing 
that  makes  an  imperfect  job. 

The  reader  perceives  a  small  orifice  about  two  inches 
long,  and  half  an  inch  wide,  in  the  centre  of  the  bottom 
of  the  lower  section  of  the  hive.  This  opening  is  ex- 
pressly for  use  in  cold  weather,  and  in  the  spring  and 
summer,  when  the  hive  stands  on  its  iron  pins,  or 
wooden  blocks,  this  opening  is  closed  with  a  tin  or  zinc 
slide,  perforated  with  holes  to  admit  the  air  into  the  hive, 
at  certain  seasons  during  the  winter,  when  the  bees  are 
to  be  shut  in.  This  opening  has  a  greater  bearing  on 
the  prosperity  of  the  bees,  than  any  one  would  imagine. 
I  would  not  do  without  it,  or  a  substitute,  for  any  con- 
sideration ;  since,  from  a  misapplication  of  the  uses  of 
this  orifice,  all  other  measures  might  fail  to  produce  a 
prosperous  state  of  our  apiaries.  The  value  of  this  open- 
ing will  appear  in  the  "  winter  management"  of  bees. 

The  reader  may  be  at  a  loss  to  conceive  how  the  bees 
are  to  be  shut  in,  with  an  opening  all  around  the  hive, 
besides  the  aforesaid  orifice.     It  is  done  as  follows :  four 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  157 

small  holes  are  made  in  the  floor-board  to  suit  the  size 
of  the  pins  at  the  corners,  in  such  positions  that  the 
whole  four  pins  can  at  any  time  be  lowered  therein. 
When  this  is  done,  the  only  place  of  ingress  and  egress 
for  the  bees,  is  the  small  door- way,  as  seen  in  the  cut, 
and  run  the  slide  over  this,  through  the  wire  staples 
placed  to  receive  it,  and  you  have  the  bees  imprisoned. 
It  is  important  to  have  an  opening,  with  a  slide  per- 
forated with  holes,  on  both  sides,  that  is,  in  the  front 
and  in  the  rear  of  the  hive ;  to  admit  a  free  circulation 
of  air  under  the  bees  in  the  winter.  This  is  another 
important  principle  of  my  management ;  but  I  must  not 
digress  too  far ;  you  shall  hear  the  whole  in  due  time. 

When  small  blocks  are  used  instead  of  pins,  the  bee- 
keeper has  only  to  pull  them  out,  let  down  his  hive,  close 
the  opening  in  front  and  rear,  and  the  bees  are  shut  in 
as  before. 

•  We  now  come  to  the  upper  structure  or  super,  and  it 
will  be  perceived,  that  a  glass  window  is  placed  on  one 
side.  This  is  placed  in  that  position  to  save  expense. 
It  would,  perhaps,  be  a  little  better  to  place  it  in  the 
centre  ;  yet  the  joiner  who  made  hives  for  me,  informed 
me,  that  a  considerable  time  could  be  saved  in  placing  the 
windows  in  this  position,  with  a  sliding  door  to  run  in  a 
groove.  The  sliding  door  may  be  seen  in  the  cut  drawn 
out.  They  who  have  but  a  few  hives  to  make,  would 
not  save  much  in  this  way ;  and  I  should  recommend 
the  door  to  be  placed  in  the  centre,  and  hung  with  very 
small  butts.  Indeed,  this  door  may  be  altogether  dis- 
pensed with,  by  those  who  may  so  choose;  yet  these 


158 


MINER  S    AMERICAN 


windows  are  important  for  other  purposes  besides  look- 
ing in  to  see  the  operations  of*  the  bees. 

The  foregoing  remarks  on  the  pins  or  supports  of  the 
hive,  as  well  as  those  on  the  glass-windows,  are  appli- 
cable to  every  hive  that  I  shall  illustrate,  except  such  as 
are  suspended,  and  which  do  not  rest  upon  floor-boards. 


CHAMBER-HIVE. 

I  here  give  a  cut  of  a  chamber-hive  adapted  to  the 
natural  requirements  of  bees.  The  design  and  principle 
are  not  new ;  but  I  have  improved  on  the  shape  and  di- 
mensions.    The  main  body  is  one  foot  square,  in  the 


BEE-KEEPERS    MANUAL.  159 

clear;  the  same  size  as  the  preceding  box-hive.  The 
chamber  is  eight  inches  deep,  with  a  door  hung  on  butts, 
and  shutting  with  a  small  hook  and  staple.  A  glass 
window  is  shown  in  front,  which  may  be  omitted,  if  you 
please,  as  before  stated.  Two  boxes  are  made  of  very 
thin  boards,  each  with  a  pane  of  glass  covering  the 
whole  front,  and  let  into  a  groove  in  the  sides  cut  for 
that  purpose.  There  should  be  no  hottoins  to  these 
boxes,  but  they  should  rest  on  the  floor  of  the  chamber, 
through  which  three  inch  and  a  quarter  holes  should  be 
made  under  each  box.  When  filled  with  honey,  a  long 
slender  knife  run  under  them,  will  easily  detach  such 
portions  of  the  combs,  as  may  be  built  down  in  close 
contact  with  the  chamber  floor  or  division  board ;  and 
when  the  boxes  are  taken  out,  the  bees  are  much  easier 
driven  out  of  them,  than  they  could  be,  if  they  were 
enclosed  on  every  side.  If  the  apiarian  does  not  sell 
any  of  his  honey,  it  is  preferable  to  have  but  one  box  to 
fill  the  whole  space,  because  bees  will  work  better  in  a 
single  box,  and  lay  up  more  honey,  as  a  general  rule, 
than  in  two  small  ones. 

The  door  to  the  chamber,  and  the  glass  window  ap- 
pear in  this  cut  to  be  in  front,  yet  you  can  have  either 
side  to  be  the  front,  that  you  please.  Both  sides  are 
adapted  to  be  the  front,  or  the  back  of  the  hive. 

This  hive  is  made  twenty-two  inches  high,  and  four- 
teen inches  broad.  These  dimensions  allow  one  inch 
for  the  top,  one  inch  for  the  division-board  or  chamber- 
floor,  and  two  inches  for  the  thickness  of  two  sides — 
that  is,  one  inch  for  each.     The  two  sides  oifull  length 


160  miner's    AMERICAIf 

on  either  side  of  the  chamber,  are  rabbeted  out  half  an 
inch,  so  as  to  admit  the  door  of  the  chamber  to  shut 
against  the  rabbet,  making  a  better  job. 

The  top  of  the  hive  should  project  all  round,  about 
an  inch  or  more. 

This  hive  is  made  to  be  suspended,  or  to  set  down 
upon  a  stand.  There  are  a  couple  of  bars,  about  an  inch 
thick,  placed  on  each  side  of  the  hive,  near  where  the 
division-board  separates  the  lower  from  the  upper  sec- 
tion, as  may  be  seen  in  the  engraving.  These  bars 
should  be  screwed  on  ;  yet,  for  a  common  hive,  nailing 
may  do  very  well.  The  use  of  these  bars  is  to  support 
the  hive,  when  the  apiarian  wishes  to  suspend  it,  rather 
than  rest  it  on  a  floor-board,  as  the  preceding  cut  repre- 
sents. 

This,  as  well  as  every  other  kind  of  hive  that  I  shall 
illustrate,  when  resting  on  a  floor-board,  should  rest  on 
pins  in  the  summer  season ;  and  in  the  winter  season, 
the  bees  should  enter  the  small  openings,  in  the  front 
and  rear  onlj^,  as  directed  in  the  case  of  the  box-hive,  in 
the  preceding  cut ;  and  be  subject  to  the  same  manage- 
ment in  every  particular. 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL. 


161 


SUSPENDED    CHAMBER    HIVES. 


The  above  engraving  represents  a  couple  of  chamber- 
hives,  suspended  on  arms  nailed  across  joists,  (timber,  3 
by  4  in.)  This  mode  of  suspending  hives  is  original ; 
no  one  but  myself  ever  adopting  it,  that  I  know  of  I 
have  also  shown  in  the  next  engraving,  another  mode  of 
suspending  hives,  of  my  own  invention  ;  that,  for  some 
reasons,  is  superior  to  this  method. 

The  manner  of  suspending,  on  the  above  plan,  is  as 


162  miner's    AMERICAN 

follows  : — Take  any  timber,  about  th  ee  or  four  inches 
thick,  say  3  by  3,  3  by  4,  or  4  by  4,  and  cut  off  pieces 
six  feet  long  ;  such  timber  generally  being  about  twelve 
feet  long,  one  strip  makes  two  pieces.  Then  sink  one 
end  in  the  ground,  at  least  iivo  feet,  leaving  the  other 
end  four  feet  above  the  ground.  Then  nail  a  strip  of  an 
inch  board  across  the  top  of  the  post,  as  seen  in  the  cut, 
on  the  side  of  the  post  towards  the  hives,  and  even  with 
the  top  of  it.  Said  cross-bar  should  be  as  small 
as  it  can  be,  and  be  strong  enough  to  support  one-half 
of  a  loaded  hive,  with  a  roof  above,  as  will  be  shown. 
It  should  be  broader  in  the  centre,  and  taper  towards  the 
ends,  as  represented  in  the  cut,  in  order  to  give  greater 
strength.  The  length  of  this  cross-bar  should  be  about 
four  inches  longer  than  the  width  of  two  hives  and  the 
post ;  in  order  to  allow  the  hives  to  stand  off  some  two 
inches  from  the  post.  When  a  post  is  thus  set,  and  the 
cross-bar  adjusted,  taking  care  to  have  the  bar  rest  hori- 
zontally, and  also  to  have  it  face  the  exact  direction  that 
the  hive  should  front ;  then  you  have  only  to  set  a  cor- 
responding post  directly  in  the  rear  of  the  front  one, 
supposing  that  to  be  the  one  first  set  into  the  ground, 
and  place  your  cross-bar  thereon,  as  before  directed,  and 
your  stand  is  complete.  You  have,  however  this  calcu- 
lation to  make,  viz ;  the  exact  distance  that  the  posts 
should  be  set  from  each  other,  so  that  in  sliding  in  the 
hives,  a  close  fit  may  be  secured.  Let  us  suppose  that 
our  hives  measure  fourteen  inches  wide,  then  allowing 
two  inches  for  the  two  bars,  it  follows  that  the  posts 
should  be  sixteen  inches  apart.     As  the  foregoing  cut 


bee-keepek's  manual.  163 

only  shows  the  front  view  of  the  stand,  only  one  post 
appears  ;  the  other  must  be  imagined  to  sta«d  directly 
behind  it. 


\^ 


KOOF  FOR  SUSPENDED  HIVES. 


This  cut  represents  a  convenient  roof  for  hives  sus- 
pended on  the  foregoing  plan.  That  every  bee-stand 
should  have  protection  from  the  scorching  rays  of  the 
sun,  is  evident  to  every  apiarian.  I  will  not  discuss  this 
subject  here  ;  but  will  simply  show  how  to  construct  a 
roof  on  the  above  plan,  which  I  consider  all  that  is  ne- 
cessary ;  or  rather  that  this  answers  the  purpose,  with  a 
little  more  attention  on  the  part  of  the  bee-keeper,  of 
more  costly  roofing.  My  object  is  to  show  how  these 
things  may  be  done  economically,  as  well  as  expensively. 

According  to  the  above  cut,  we  take  pine  boards,  one 
inch  thick,  and  fifteen  or  eighteen  inches  wide,  cut  them 
in  lengths  oi  four  feet,  then  strap  two  of  them  together, 
as  seen  in  the  cut ;  first,  securing  them  from  warping, 
by  cleats  nailed  across  them,  on  the  under  side,  with 
wrought  nails,  and  clinched.  The  ends  of  such  cleats 
may  be  seen  in  the  cut.  The  straps  that  hold  the  boards 
together  at  the  top,  may  be  stout  leather,  or  butts,  as  the 
apiarian  may  choose.  When  the  roof  is  finished,  some 
blocks  of  wood  may  be  placed  on  the  top  of  each  hive, 
in  order  to  give  a  slight  inclination  to  the  sides  of  the. 
roof;  otherwise  the  two  boards  would  rest  horizontallv 


164  miner's    AMERICAN 

on  the  hives.  If  the  hives  front  the  south,  this  roof 
should  be  idrawn  forward  past  the  centre  of  them, 
and  thus  shade  the  side  that  needs  protection,  while  the 
north  side  requires  no  shading.  In  the  spring,  when 
all  the  heat  that  the  sun  produces  is  beneficial,  the  roof 
may  be  jnoved  back,  so  as  to  allow  the  sun  to  strike  the 
hives,  with  the  full  force  of  his  rays. 

This  kind  of  roof  will,  perhaps,  require  some  fasten- 
ing as  security  against  very  high  winds,  when  fences  and 
trees  are  prostrated.  A  strap,  or  strong  cord  secured  to 
each  side,  directly  over  the  posts,  and  then  brought  down 
and  secured  to  the  posts  would  be  effectual.  I  would 
recommend,  that  an  auger-hole  be  made  both  through 
the  posts  and  the  roof,  when  constructed  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

I  recommend  the  roof  to  be  in  portions  of  four  feet, 
for  the  reason,  that  such  lengths  are  just  sufficient  for  a 
single  stand  of  two  hives  ;  and  such  are  removed  with 
more  facility  than  longer  portions.  If  there  are  only 
two  hives  suspended,  then,  no  longer  roof  can  be  conve- 
niently used,  nor  is  a  longer  one  necessary  ;  but  in  case 
that  a  half  dozen  stands  are  existing,  then  longer  roofs 
might  be  used,  but  not  to  advantage. 

On  this  plan,  a  single  hive  cannot  be  suspended,  since 
it  requires  two  to  effect  an  equilibrium.  When  more 
than  one  stand  is  erected,  the  adjoining  ones  should  be 
placed  at  such  distance,  that  the  hives  can  be  easily  put 
in,  and  taken  out,  without  coming  in  contact  with  the 
hives  in  the  neighboring  stands.  If,  for  instance,  our  hives 
are  fourteen  inches  wide,  we  should  allow  about  sixteen 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  165 

inches  space  between  the  ends  of  the  cross-bars  of.  the 
different  stands  ;  thus  affording  facility  for  placing  a  hive 
in  position,  or  removing  it  to  another  location,  at  pleasure. 
The  timber  used  in  the  posts  should  be  equal  in  dura- 
bility to  chestnut,  and  chestnut  joists  3  by  4,  are  the  very 
best  that  can  be  used.  It  is  necessary  to  have  body  to 
the  timber  below  the  ground  ;  but  above  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  be  so  strong.  There  is  a  way  to  economize,  and 
at  the  same  time  beautify  these  posts,  as  follows,  viz : — 
take  a  piece  of  3  by  4  joist,  eight  feet  long,  and  at  a  dis- 
tance of  two  feet  from  the  end,  set  in  your  saw  obliquely 
till  you  come  to  the  centre  of  the  stick  ;  then  running 
the  saw  along  through  the  centre  four  feet,  you  stop,  and 
on  the  opposite  side  to  that,  on  which  you  commenced 
sawing,  you  cut  off  the  stick,  thus  giving  tioo  posts,  six 
feet  long,  each  with  a  shoulder  two  feet  in  length  of  full 
size,  to  be  set  into  the  ground,  while  the  diminished  por- 
tions, four  feet  long,  above  the  ground,  are  quite  strong 
enough,  and  much  improved  in  beauty  by  the  operation. 
The  end  of  one  piece  will  have  to  be  squared  at  the  top, 
in  consequence  of  the  necessity  of  cutting  obliquely,  to 
get  the  saw  into  the  centre  of  the  stick.  If  the  joists  are 
just  twelve  feet  long,  and  by  this  operation  the  extra 
four  feet  become  useless,  nothing  is  gained  on  the  score 
of  economy  ;  yet  something  is  gained  in  the  looks  of  the 
posts  when  erected.  If  joists  can  be  obtained  sixteen 
feet  long,  then  a  saving  may  be  made,  or  if  the  apiarian 
chooses  to  lessen  the  height  of  his  hives,  perhaps  three 
feet  above,  and  eighteen  inches  below  the  ground,  would 
answer;  and  in  such  a  case  posts  only  four  feet  six 


166  miner's    AMERICAN 

inches,  are  required,  and  an  ordinary  joist,  thirteen  feet 
long,  would  suffice  for  four  posts. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  this  kind  of  bee-stand 
is  the  most  beautiful  that  can  be  devised.  I  am  now 
talking  to  the  man  of  moderate  views,  who  wishes  a 
snug,  plain  bee-stand,  at  a  moderate  cost ;  yet  as  good 
as  the  best  in  practical  utility. 

When  I  come  to  the  gentleman  of  leisure,  with  a 
purse  ready  to  burst  for  the  want  of  an  exit-vahe,  I 
shall  then  unfold  a  magnificent  diorama  to  his  view; 
but  here,  among  the  plain  every-day  hives,  I  must  stifle 
the  utterance  of  these  sublime  views,  which  are  re- 
served for  those  who  enjoy  their  otium  cum  dignitate. 

It  may  be  thought  by  some  apiarians,  that  stands  or 
posts,  on  the  foregoing  plan,  bring  the  hives  too  close 
This  is  not  the  case.  The  distance  will  be  about  eight 
inches  for  the  two  hives  occupying  the  same  stand  ;  and 
the  hives  of  the  adjoining  stands  will  be  much  farther  off. 

It  is  true,  that  bees  do  not  thrive  so  well  when  placed  in 
hives  on  a  stand  close  together,  resting  on  a  flooi'-board, 
for  the  reason,  that  they  are  apt  to  run  to  and  fro  to 
each  other's  hives ;  but  when  the  hives  are  suspended, 
this  difficulty  is  avoided,  and  a  bee  is  no  more  likely  to 
enter  the  adjoining  hive  in  this  case,  than  if  it  were  ten 
feet  off. 

There  is  a  feature  pertaining  to  hives  suspended,  not 
belonging  to  those  resting  on  floor-boards,  it  is  this  :  the 
alighting-boards  for  the  bees  to  rest  on,  as  they  enter  the 
hives,  are  in  the  position  of  an  inclined  plane. 

Here  is  a  side  view  of  a  suspended  h  ve,  with   the 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL. 


167 


floor-board  suspended  under  the  hive  by  little  wire 
hooks  and  staples.  See  the  bees  entering  at  the  side. 
They  enter  at  every  side,  but  much  more  in  front  than 
elsewhere,  because  that  part  of  the  floor-board  projects 
two  inches  bevond  the  hive. 


llllllllllllll||l|l|lllll|HllMlllllllil||ll|lllmllillili|illllMilllil|ilimiilililliiill|ll 

''j|||i||i|i!lii!!iiiiiiliiiiii!iimTm^ 


It  is  not  absolutely  necessary  that  the  bottom  board 
should  have  an  inclination  from  back  to  front  in  this 
manner ;  yet  it  is  better  than  to  have  it  hanging  hori- 
zontally, for  various  reasons ;  one  is,  that  it  allows  the 
water  that  may  beat  in  under  the  hives,  in  storms,  to 
easily  run  off;  also  any  moisture  from  the  interior  of  the 
hive  that  may  drip  down,  readily  finds  its  way  to  the 
ground.  Again,  any  substances  or  insects  that  the  bees 
have  to  thrust  from  the  hive,  can  be  expelled  with  much 
greater  facility,  since  any  one  knows,  that  a  great  stone 


108  MINERS    AMERICAN 

may  be  rolled  down  hill,  that  cannot  be  moved  on  level 
ground.  The  moth-worm,  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  is 
dragged  out  of  the  hive  much  easier,  with  floor-boards 
on  this  plan.  This  inclination  may  be  about  an  inch ; 
that  is,  take  half  an  inch  from  the  back  of  the  hive,  and 
add  it  to  the  front.  It  is  not  best  to  have  any  projec- 
tion except  in  front,  as  the  suspension  would  thereby  be 
attended  with  more  trouble.  The  sides  and  back  of  the 
floor-board  coming  even  or  flush  with  the  outer  surface 
of  the  hive,  the  wire  hooks  secure  it  in  its  proper  posi- 
tion much  better  than  if  it  projected  an  inch  or  two  all 
round. 

The  winter  management  of  such  hives  is  precisely  the 
same,  as  I  stated  for  hives  resting  on  stationary  floor- 
boards ;  so  far  as  closing  up  the  entrance  on  all  sides, 
and  compelling  the  bees  tp  enter  the  narrow  apperture 
in  front  is  concerned.  The  method  of  closing  the  whole 
general  entrance  around  the  hive  must  be  difl^erent,  of 
course ;  yet  the  same  narrow  passage-way  for  use  in 
cold  weather,  is  reserved  in  hives  suspended,  as  well  as 
those  not  suspended.  The  manner  of  raising  up  the 
bottom-boards  in  the  fall,  when  cold  windy  weather  sets 
in,  say  in  November,  is  by  having  two  sets  of  staples, 
one  for  lowering  down  and  the  other  for  raising  up  the 
floor-board  \  or  a  projection  of  the  floor-board  in  the 
rear,  may  be  left,  so  that  by  sliding  it  forward,  it  wilj 
close  itself;  when  a  wooden  button  placed  at  the  back 
of  the  hive,  near  the  centre  of  ihe  bottom,  may  be  turn- 
ed on  its  pivot  and  hold  the  floor-board  firm  in  its  closed 


bee-keeper's  manual.  169 

position.     The  distance  that  a  floor-board  is  hung  from 
the  hive  is  three-eighths  of  an  inch,  in  all  cases. 

It  will  be  observed,  that  in  the  foregoing  cut  of  the  sus- 
pended hives,  no  door  or  window  appears  in  front.  In 
this  case,  the  door  of  the  chamber  is  supposed  to  be  on 
the  back  of  the  hive,  and  that  of  the  glass  window  below, 
on  the  same  side.  If  there  be  a  passage-way  back  of 
suspended  hives,  it  is  best  to  have  these  things  in  the 
rear.  For  the  use  of  the  thorough,  practical  apiarian, 
the  glass  windows  in  the  body,  or  lower  section  of  the 
hive,  are  of  little  value  ;  but  for  the  amateur  apiarian, 
let  them  be  inserted,  if  he  is  willing  to  pay  for  the  extra 
expense  that  it  will  incur,  of  about  fifty  cents  each,  or 
perhaps  less. 

Every  hive,  whether  suspended  or  otherwise,  would 
be  benefitted  by  having  a  floor-board  on  the  inclined- 
plane  principle;  yet  it  is  attended  with  some  trouble 
to  have  such,  when  the  hives  rest  on  a  bench  or  stool. 
I  have,  however,  obviated  that  difiiculty,  in  a  new  hive 
that  I  have  recently  constructed,  denominated  the 
"  Equilateral  Bee-Hive,"  the  engraving  of  which  ap- 
pears in  this  work.  It  is  effected  by  beveling  off"  the 
floor-board  on  every  side,  forming  a  slight  cone  in  the 
centre,  with  the  inclined  sides  diverging  therefrom. 


170 


MINER  S  AMERICAN 


i 


SECOND  PLAN  OF  SUSPENDED  HIVES. 

I  now  introduce  a  second  method  of  suspending  hives, 
which  I  consider  preferable  to  the  first,  on  some  ac- 
counts. On  this  phxn,  only  three  posts  are  used  for  sus- 
pending two  hives  ;  whereas,  on  the  other  plan,  four 
are  necessary.  In  this  case,  the  bars  that  are  attached 
to  the  hives  to  support  them,  are  placed  on  the  sides, 
instead  of  on  the  fronts  and  backs.  Then  correspond- 
ing bars  are  nailed  across  the  ends  of  the  posts,  even 
with  the  tops  of  them,  and  of  the  same  length  and  size 
of  the  bars  on  the  hives.  The  ends  of  these  bars  are 
seen  in  the  cut,  as  they  appear  when  correctly  adjusted. 
The  posts,  on  this  plan,  stand  opposite  the  centres  of  the 
hives ;  and  the  cross-bars  on  the  posts  being  so  placed  that 
an  equal  length  projects  on  each  side.  The  weight  of. 
the  hive,  bears  on  the  bars  where  they  are  nailed  to  the 
posts ;  or  rather,  the  weight  is  equal  on  each  side  of  the 


BEE-KEEPER  S  MANUAL.  171 

fulcrum  or  centre,  and  the  bars  are  able  to  sustain  a 
very  great  weight. 

The  remarks  relative  to  posts,  the  hanging  of  the  bot- 
tom-boards on  an  inclined  plane,  the  construction  of  a 
roofj  &c.,  are  all  applicable  to  these  hives,  as  well  as  those 
hung  on  the  first-mentioned  plan. 

The  door  to  the  chamber,  and  the  glass  window  in 
the  lower  section  of  the  hive,  here  appear  in  front. 
They  can,  as  I  before  observed,  be  on  either  side ;  yet 
I  think  hives  have  a  better  appearance  to  have  them  in 
front. 

It  is  desirable  in  erecting  a  bee-stand,  to  have  as  little 
shelter  for  insects  as  possible,  and  here  lies  the  advan- 
tage of  this  stand,  to  some  little  extent,  over  the  one  first 
named.  Everything  fits  very  closely  in  the  above 
method,  affording  less  crevices  for  moth-millers,  spiders, 
&c.,  than  the  other  mode.  The  difficulty  in  the  first 
case,  merely  lies  in  the  necessity  of  the  cross-bars  being 
much  wider  than  those  of  the  second  case  ;  and  as  the 
posts  will  gradually  work  out  of  position,  in  a  small  de- 
gree, openings  between  the  said  bars  and  the  hives  will 
appear ;  and  unless  the  apiarian  uses  a  brush  to  clean 
out  these  crevices  quite  often,  they  become  filled  with 
spiders'  webs,  and  various  insects  that  do  no  good  to 
the  apiary ;  yet  with  care  on  the  part  of  the  attentive 
bee-keeper,  there  is  nothing  to  fear.  If  a  channel  ap- 
pears between  the  bars  and  the  hives  on  the  above  plan 
a  brush-broom  will  clear  out  any  insects  that  may  get  a 
lodgment  there  very  easily ;  but  in  the  first  case,  there 


172  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

is  more  difficulty  in  effecting  a  dislodgment  in  conse- 
quence of  the  greater  depth  of  the  opening. 

There  is  another  method  of  suspending  hives,  quite 
common.  It  consists  in  setting  two  parallel  tiers  of 
posts  in  the  ground,  three  in  number,  of  such  height  as 
may  be  desired;  and  then  nailing  long  strips  of  boards, 
three  or  four  inches  wide,  and  in  length,  say  twelve  feet, 
if  such  length  is  desired.  The  posts  are  so  arranged, 
that  when  the  boards  are  attached,  the  hives  may  be 
slid  in  at  the  ends,  and  rest  on  the  bars,  as  in  the  two 
cases  that  I  have  adduced.  The  difficulty  in  this  case 
is,  that  when  half  a  dozen  hives  are  thus  suspended,  and 
it  becomes  necessary  to  remove  any  but  the  two  occu- 
pying the  ends  of  the  stand,  it  cannot  be  easily  done, 
unless  the  bottom-boards  are  taken  off,  and  the  hives 
raised  up  perpendicularly,  which  is  not  convenient. 
Some  persons  may  suppose  that  hives  need  not  be  re- 
moved at  all,  at  any  time  ;  yet  such  is  not  the  case. 
Hives  should  never  be  removed  in  the  spring  or  sum- 
mer season,  unless  an  artificial  swarm  is  to  be  made,  or 
some  operation  performed  that  is  necessary  ;  and  every 
tiiorough,  practical  bee-keeper  will  often  see  the  neces- 
sity of  removing  his  hives  for  such  purposes  occasion- 
ally. 

townly's  hive. 

Mr.  Edward  Townly,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  has, 
durmg  the  last  ten  years,  disposed  of  many  hundreds  of 
his  "  patent  premium  hives,"  as  I  have  been  informed. 
I  have  not  thought  it  expedient  to  furnish  an  engraving 


ui::E-Ki:i:rKR'b  maxual.  173 

of  his  hive,  since  there  are  so  many  other  styles,  that  I 
consider  preferable,  and  I  shall  be  compelled  to  confine 
my  remarks  to  as  small  a  space  as  possible,  and  do  jus- 
tice to  my  subject.  T  unJerstand  that  Mr.  Townley  has 
recently  removed  to  the  v/est.  Whether  this  exchange 
of  location  is  in  consequence  of  a  decline  in  his  busi- 
ness I  cannot  say,  but  I  infer  that  it  is. 

The  business  of  patent-hive  making  has  been  carried 
to  a  considerable  extent  in  this  country,  and  by  men,  in 
a  great  many  instances,  who  have  had  but  a  little  prac- 
tical experience  in  managing  bees  ;  consequently,  they 
are  not  the  proper  persons  to  construct  hives  of  the 
best  utility,  as  it  is  out  of  the  question,  for  any  man  to 
invent  a  bee-hive,  that  that  shall  excel  all  others  in  the 
long  run,  unless  he  be  a  thorough,  practical  apiarian. 
It  is  necessary  to  know  the  true  reasons,  why  hives 
should  be  thus  and  so.  A  hive  made  at  random  that 
shall  differ  from  all  others,  and  appear  to  the  world,  who 
are  not  capable  judges,  to  possess  great  merit,  may  not 
be  worth  a  straw.  Most  any  kind  of  hive,  if  not  too 
large,  will  show  a  much  better  result  the  first  year  than 
subsequently  ;  and  it  is  in  subsequent  years  only  that 
their  true  value  is  demonstrated. 

As  to  the  intrinsic  value  and  estimation  in  which  I 
hold  Mr.  Townley 's  hives,  it  would  not,  perhaps,  become 
me  to  declare  ;  but  I  must  say,  that  from  the  evidence 
around  me  of  the  decay  of  families  of  bees  in  his  hives, 
should  I  speak  my  true  sentiments,  I  might  be  accused 
of  discourtesy.  Perhaps  the  reader  may  expect  to  hear 
my  objections  to  his  hives.     I  will  state  them  brieflv. 


174  MINERS     AMERICAN 

The  dimensions  of  Townly's  hive  are,  for  the  lower 
section,  where  the  bees  have  their  permanent  abode.,  about 
ten  hy  fourteen  inches  ;  and  since  I  discussed  the  size  of 
hives  in  the  Am.  Agrt.,  in  1846-7,  I  learn  that  he  has 
constructed  some  of  his  hives  nearer  my  size,  about  one 
foot  square.  The  chamber,  or  super,  projects  over  the 
main  body  of  the  hive,  on  every  side,  some  three  inches, 
being  raised  to  admit  the  boxes.  It  turns  on  hinges 
placed  on  one  side.  The  communication  from  the  body 
of  the  hive  to  the  boxes  in  the  super  is  by  holes  some- 
what similar  to  my  own  method.  At  the  botttomof  the 
hive  is  a  screen  made  of  wire,  which  is  represented  as 
affording  fresh  air,  and  at  the  same  time,  protecting  the 
hive  against  the  bee-moth.  About  an  inch  from  the 
bottom  of  the  hive  a  tube  is  inserted,  about '  six  inches 
long,  with  a  bore  about  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter, 
through  which  the  bees  enter  and  depart.  jXear  the 
top  of  the  hive,  in  front,  another  similar  tube  is  placed, 
for  the  ingress  and  egress  of  the  family. 

Now,  in  the  first  place,  if  he  still  makes  his  hives  10 
by  14  inches,  as  at  first,  I  consider  that  size  as  entirely 
too  small.  The  solid  contents  of  such  a  hive  is  much 
less  than  a  hive  12  by  12  in.,  because  the  foMr^eew  inches 
is  the  depth,  not  the  breadth  of  the  hive.  In  the  next 
place,  I  condemn  his  wire  screen  as  ruinous,  rather  than 
beneficial,  to  the  bees ;  at  least,  doing  no  good  at  all. 
The  only  way  to  ventilate  hives  is  by  giving  ingress  agd 
egress  on  every  side  of  the  hive,  as  I  have  shown  in  the 
suspended  hives,  before  illustrated. 

Again,  the   upper   tube   is   downright   ruin    to    any 


bee-keeper's  manual.  175 

family  of  bees.  On  this  principle,  a  current  of  air  is 
constantly  passing  up  through  the  brood-combs,  where 
the  bees  are  doing  all  that  lies  in  their  power  to  get  up 
a  high  degree  of  heat,  in  order  to  develop  the  larvas. 
If  a  person  were  to  try  his  best  to  invent  something 
that  would  prove  the  most  destructive  to  bees,  perhaps 
he  could  not  hit  upon  a  better  process  than  that  of  in- 
serting tubes  in  the  hives  near  the  upper  part  of  them. 
I  could  state  many  things  pertaining  to  Mr.  Townly's 
hive  that  I  disapprove  of;  but  it  may  be  supposed  that 
a  spirit  of  rivalry  actuates  me  in  my  remarks,  and  I 
will  let  it  pass.  What  I  say,  is  the  candid  conviction 
of  my  mind,  without  regard  to  my  own  private  position 
in  the  least.  I  might,  perhaps,  better  say  nothing  about 
other  hives ;  yet  my  readers  would  not  be  siiiisfied  with 
such  a  course. 

weeks'  VERMONT  HIVES. 

Mr.  Weeks,  of  Vermont,  has  invented  several  hives  in 
his  day,  and  he  has  also  published  a  small  work  on  the 
honey-bee,  and  so,  indeed,  has  Townly.  Both  of  these 
little  works  are  of  sterling  merit,  so  far  as  they  go  ;  but 
they  are  but  introductions  to  the  subject,  and  I  am  as- 
tonished, that  gentlemen  having  the  means  of  unfolding 
the  interesting  habits,  economy,  and  management  of 
bees,  should  have  stopped  on  the  very  threshhold  of  their 
subject ;  but  so  it  is,  and  they  stand  not  alone.  Others 
have  done  the  same,  and  perhaps  Lam  following  them  ; 
but  I  think  the  reader  will,  on  wading  through  these 


176  MINEK  S    AMERICAN 

pages,  when  he  comes  to  "finis,"  exclaim,  "enough — 
enough — /  want  no  more." 

Mr.  Weeks'  hive,  properly  denominated  the  "  Ver- 
mont Hive,"  is  on  the  same  principle  of  my  suspended 
hives,  as  illustrated  at  page  167.  The  size  and  shape 
of  his  hive  is  different,  however,  from  mine.  His  bot- 
tom-board is  suspended  by  wire  hooks  and  staples  in  the 
same  manner  as  I  have  described.  He  also  has  a  cham- 
i)er  to  his  hive,  in  which  two  boxes  are  placed  with 
glass  fronts,  on  my  plan  ;  but  in  order  to  obtain  a  greater 
surface  for  these  supers,  or  boxes,  and  not  destroy  the 
symmetry  of  the  hive,  he  has  {as  I  presiane)  given  an  in- 
clination to  the  back  of  it.  Here  is  a  side  view  of  one 
of  them. 


jjpP^ 


Now,  this  shape  is  not  necessary  at  all ;  but  if  a  man 
expects  to  have  his  hives  "  take"  with  the  public,  there 
must  be  a  mystery  about  them, — a  grand  secret,  and  a 
novelty  pertaining  to  them.  Thus  reason  men  of  the 
present  day,  in  a  great  measure ;  yet,  after  all,  "  honesty 
is  the  best  policy." 

Mr.  Weeks  gives  as  a  reason  for  having  the  back  of 


bee-keeper's  manual.  177 

his  hive  incline  in  the  above  manner,  that  it  is 
expressly  to  hold  the  combs  up,  and  also  to  carry  off  the 
sweatings,  or  drippings  from  the  interior  of  the  hive, 
which  sometimes  occur.  This  inclination  is  of  about 
the  same  relative  value  as  a.  fifth  wheel  to  a  wagon, — of 
no  use  whatever.  If  Mr.  Weeks'  hive  has  merits,  it  is 
independent  of  this  inclination ;  yet  anything  for  nov- 
elty !  I  disapprove  of  the  shape  of  Mr.  Weeks'  hive, 
and  think  the  size  of  the  lower  section  too  large ;  beyond 
these  objections,  it  is  very  near  what  a  hive  ought  to 
be  ;  and  it  is  far  preferable  to  Townly's  hive ;  indeed,  if 
no  worse  hives  than  Weeks'  "  Vermont  Hive,"  is  palmed 
off  on  the  public,  we  ought  to  think  ourselves  well  off. 

Mr.  Weeks  has  also  constructed  another  hive  termed 
the  "  Non-Swarmer,"  which  is  entirely  too  unwieldly, 
and  too  costly  for  general  use.  We  cannot  afford  to 
employ  engineers  to  work  our  hives ;  and  I  do  hope,  that 
hive  inventors  will  hereafter  bear  this  in  mind.  Let  us 
have  something  plain,  simple,  original,  compact,  and 
economical,  and  theji  you'll  go  it. 

The  principle  on  which  Mr.  Weeks'  "  Non-Swarmer" 
is  based,  is  upon  the  principle  of  collateral  hiving,  or  iij 
other  words,  the  placing  of  boxes  at  the  sides  of  the 
main  hive,  instead  of  under,  or  on  the  top  of  it.  He 
also  supe7^s  this  hive,  at  the  same  time,  and  thus  prevents 
swarming. 

I  shall  discuss  the  relative  merits,  of  collateral  hiving, 
nadiring,  and  supering,  in  a  chapter  devoted  to  that  sub- 
ject. 

It  is  hardly  worth  my  while  to  comment  on  the  merits 


178  miner's    AMERICAN 

of  every  hive  that  has  had  its  brief  existence,  since  I 
know  of  none,  that  is  of  any  particular  value. 

colton's  hivd. 

A  Mr.  Colton  has  invented  a  hive,  that  I  saw  repre- 
sented in  the  Albany  Cultivator.  How  far  this  hive  has 
been  introduced,  I  am  unable  to  say  ;  but  it  cannot  be 
of  any  real,  practical  utility.  The  principle  bn  which  it 
is  constructed  is  something  like  this  : — 

The  main  body  of  the  hive  is  of  a  triangular  form  ; 
with  one  of  its  sides  horizontal  with  the  ground.  On 
each  side  of  the  angle,  are  placed  three  boxes,  in  posi- 
tions somewhat  like  the  steps  of  stairs,  each  with  its  com- 
munication with  the  main  hive.  These  boxes,  which  must, 
of  course,  be  small,  constitute  the  supers  of  the  hive, 
and  if  the  bees  would  fill  all  of  them  annually,  it  would 
be  a  very  profitable  hive  ;  but  this  they  will  not  do.  I 
speak  from  a  knowledge  of  what  a  family  of  bees  ordi- 
narily can  perform,  and  if  I  should  be  shown  a  hive  with 
double  the  room  in  the  chamber,  that  a  stock  of  bees  can 
generally  fill,  I  should  condemn  it  as  impracticable,  how- 
ever much  to  the  contrary  the  inventor  might  assert. 

GAYLORD    AND    TUCKER's  HIVE. 

This  is  a  hive  invented  by  a  gentleman  residing  at 
Poughkeepsie,  or  somewhere  up  the  North  River,  if  I 
mistake  not.  It  is  on  the  "  subtended"  principle,  of 
placing  boxes  over  each  other.  I  have  only  to  remark, 
in  regard  to  this,  as  well  as  all  other  hives  on  this  prin- 
ciple, that  if  it  be  intended  to  transfer  the  bees  from  old 


bee-keeper's  manual.  179 

to  new  combs,  in  the  manner  as  shown  at  page  142,  then 
they  will  prove  a  failure,  if  the  most  of  them  have  not 
"  blown  up"'  already. 

There  is  another  style  of  hive  in  use,  to  a  considera- 
ble extent,  that  has  no  principle  that  is  particularly  at 
variance  with  my  chamber-hive,  represented  at  page  158, 
except  th^  floor-board  has  a  double  inclination.  It  is 
done  thus  :  the  bottom  of  the  hive  is  level ;  that  is,  hav- 
ing no  inclination  from  back  to  front. 

The  bottom-board,  or  boards,  are  then  placed  with  an 
.  inclination  from  the  centre  of  the  hive,  about  two  or 
three  inches  from  the  bottom,  towards  each  side ;  so 
that  w^hen  the  hive  is  viewed  with  the  floor-boards  in 
their  places,  two  of  them  appear ;  one  projecting  in 
front  some  two  inches,  and  slanting  up  into  the  hive  to 
near  its  centre,  from  front  to  rear,  and  as  I  before 
stated,  about  three  inches  from  the  bottom  of  the  hive  ; 
then,  another  projecting  in  the  rear,  or  on  the  back  of 
the  hive,  having  the  same  inclination  upward  as  the 
othei*.  This  description  is  given  from  a  hasty  exami- 
nation, and  I  may  possibly  not  be  correct,  as  regard  dis- 
tances ;  but  the  general  features  of  the  alighting-board, 
I  think,  are  as  above  represented.  This  hive  is  termed 
a  '■  patent  hive,"  in  the  section  of  country  where  I  saw 
it  in  use.  I  infer,  that  some  one,  desirous  of  "  raising 
the  wind,"  by  introducing  a  hive  with  some  new  "  gim- 
crack"  about  it,  that  would  look  mysterious  and  novel, 
has  taken  the  common  chamber-hive,  that  is  public  pro- 
perty, and  open  for  any  man's  use,  and  attached  this 


|[90  M inch's  aiviekican 

humbug  of  a  bottom-board,  to  make  it  "  take"  with  the 
public ! 

STRAW  HIVES. 

Straw  hives  are  not  much  used  in  this  country  ;  and 
they  never  would  h^ve  been  made  in  any  country,  but 
for  their  cheapness.  The  peasantry  of  Europe,  who  are 
not  able  to  furnish  their  apiaries  with  wooden  hives,  still 
continue  in  the  use  of  those  made  of  straw.  I  consider 
this  kind  of  hive  as  wholly  unfit  for  the  use  of  people 
who  live  in  a  land  of  plenty,  and  who  are  able  to  make 
wooden  ones  at  a  rate  but  a  little  dearer  than  those  made 
of  straw.  Straw  hives  are  only  worthy  of  a  state  of 
abject  poverty,  and  I  hope  that  I  shall  never  see  one  in 
use  in  this  land  of  milk  and  honey,  where  every  man 
can  sit  down  to  his  "  roast  beef  and  plum  pudding,"  and 
go  to  bed  with  his  pockets  jingling  with  "  mint  drops." 

LOG    HIVES. 

Ever}^  one,  I  presume,  has  seen  hives  made  from  hol- 
low trees,  by  cutting  off  the  log  of  a  suitable  length,  and 
then  nailing  a  board  on  the  opening  at  the  top.  This  is 
a  much  better  hive  than  those  made  of  straw.  These 
log-hives  are  called  "  gums,"  in  some  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. I  recommend  this  kind  of  hive  to  those  who  wish 
to  keep  bees  without  any  expense  whatever.  There  is  no 
principle  of  the  habits  and  economy  of  the  bee,  that 
conflicts  with  log-hives  ;  yet  when  boards  are  as  cheap 
a§  they  are,  in  those  sections,  of  the  country  that  abound 


BEE-KEEPERS    MANUAL. 


181 


in  logs,  I  think  that  boards  should  be  used,  even  by  the 
poor  man,  who  studies  economy  in  all  his  labors. 

The  log-hive  is  preferable  to  many  patent  hives  now 
in  use;  and  I  can  name  several  of  them  that  I  would 
not  as  soon  use  as  the  hollow  log,  if  I  were  compelled 
to  use  either. 


miner's  equilateral  hive. 

The  above  cut  represents  a  hive  that  I  have  con- 
structed, with  the  view  to  combine  beauty  with  utility. 
During  many  years  of  experimenting  on  the  correct 


182  miner's    AMERICAN 

size  of  hives,  I  have  demonstrated  certain  requisites,  that 
every  hive  should  possess. 

Firstly,  hives  should  be  of  such  a  size  as  nature  will 
admit  the  bees  to  keep  full,  and  yet  have  room  enough 
to  perform  every  ramification  of  their  labors  to  the  best 
advantage. 

Secondly,  facility  to  be  afforded  the  bees  in  ascending 
to  the  supers.  If  we  have  long  and  narrow  hives,  the 
bees  find  much  more  difliculty  in  forcing  their  way 
loaded,  through  a  long  space  crowded  with  bees,  than 
they  would  through  a  less  space.  This  is  so  reasonable, 
that  the  mere  avowal  of  it  is  convincing  ;  consequently, 
we  must  give  a  more  compact  form  to  our  hives,  and 
shorten  the  distance  to  the  supers  as  much  possible,  and 
not  interfere  with  any  other  principle  of  management. 

Thirdly,  the  supers  should  be  so  arranged,  that  the 
honey  stoi-ed  therein,  may  be  taken  with  the  greatest 
possible  facility.  Every  apiarian  is  aware,  that  most  of 
the  hives  now  in  use,  do  not  offer  the  facility  of  perform- 
ing this  operation,  that  is  desirable.  It  is  true,  that  with 
a  bee-dress,  the  removal  of  the  boxes  is  not  attended 
with  any  particular  trouble,  unless  it  be  in  the  chamber- 
hives,  where  the  boxes  are  a  tight  fit,  and  are  hard  to 
loosen  from  their  positions  ;  but  everything  should  be  so 
arranged,  that  the  bees  will  receive  little  or  no  disturb- 
ance. It  is  not  the  mere  operation  of  removing  supers, 
at  the  time  that  it  is  being  performed,  that  we  should  look 
to:  If  we  irritate  the  bees,  they  will  not  forget  it  for 
several  days  ;  and  when  we  do  not  expect  it,  one  may 
plant  its  sting  in  our  face ;  saying,  as  it  were,  "  there; 


bee-keeper's  manual.  183 

take  that,  for  the  way  you  jammed  and  knocked  us  about 
the  other  day." 

In  my  equilateral  hive,  I  have  effected  all  that  I 
think  can  be  done,  in  the  way  of  improvement  in  respect 
to  the  foregoing  considerations.  The  easy  manner  in 
which  the  boxes  in  the  upper  section  may  be  removed, 
when  filled  with  bees,  and  the  communication  shut  off 
with  the  family  below,  by  a  simple  and  beautiful  contri- 
vance, are  very  prominent  features  of  its  merits.  I 
offer  no  novelty ! — no  grand  discovery  ! — no  wonder- 
ful invention,  that  allows  the  bees  to  produce  gi'eat  and 
unprecedented  harvests  of  surplus  honey  !  But  I  claim 
to  have  simplified,  and  divested  the  management  of  bees 
of  its  complexity,  and  rendered  the  business  easy  to  the 
inexperienced  apiarian. 

Connected  with  the  foregoing  important  results,  I  have 
beautified  the  general  appearance  of  my  hive,  so  as  to 
render  it  an  ornament,  at  the  same  time  that  its  utility 
is  admitted,  and  not  increase  the  expense  of  making  it 
to  any  amount  worth  taking  into  consideration. 

The  foregoing  cut  gives  a  tolerably  correct  view  of 
one  style  of  ornamenting ;  but  I  have  another  hive  that 
I  think  surpasses  this  in  beauty ;  that  is,  the  ornamental 
portion,  but  the  size  and  shape  are  the  same  as  that  re- 
presented by  the  cut.  On  either  of  these  two  hives,  a 
handsome  wooden  U7^n  may  be  placed,  if  desired,  which 
will  greatly  improve  their  appearance. 

This  kind  of  hive  may  be  made  without  any  glass 
windows,  and  thereby  lessen  the  expense  somewhat,  but 
gentlemen  wishing  but  a  few  hives,  should  not  stand  for 


184  miner's    AMERICAN 

the  extra  trifle  that  it  will  cost  to  have  the  windows 
made. 

The  cost  of  making  my  ornamental  hives  is  no  more 
than  the  common  chamber  hive ;  and  the  difference  in 
appearance  is  very  great.  Nothing  could  exceed  the 
beauty  of  a  row  of  these  hives  handsomely  arranged 
on  a  well-made  platform,  or  on  stools  suitably  con- 
structed, and  with  a  tasty  roof  to  pi'otect  them  from  the 
heat  of  the  sun  at  noonday,  which  is  all  that  hives  re- 
quire. I  am  strongly  opposed  to  close  bee-houses,  as 
the  reader  will  learn  by  my  remarks  on  that  point  here- 
after. 

My  equilateral  hive  is  intended  to  rest  on  a  floor- 
board, beveled  on  its  sides  as  before  alluded  to,  and  pro- 
jecting two  or  three  inches  all  round  the  hive.  The 
small  entrance  for  the  bees  seen  in  front,  is  for  use  in 
winter,  and  during  cold  spring  weather.  In  the  sum- 
mer, the  hive  rests  on  four  small  pinions  or  legs,  three- 
eighths  of  an  inch  high,  as  represented  in  describing  the 
box-hive  at  page  153.  When  it  is  necessary  to  lower 
down  the  hive,  the  legs  are  let  into  small  holes  in  the 
floor-board  made  expressly  to  receive  them,  and  very 
near  to  the  position  of  them,  when  the  hive  is  raised  up 
as  it  stands  during  the  summer. 

The  full  particulars  of  every  part  of  this  hive  cannot 
be  given  here,  and  do  justice  to  myself  It  is  a  true 
saying,  that  "the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire."  The 
production  of  this  hive  has  caused  me  much  mental 
labor,  and  I  think  that  I  am  justly  entitled  to  reap  the 


bee-keeper's  manual.  185 

benefit,  to  a  trifling  extent,  that  will  result  to  the  public 
from  its  adoption. 

I  intend  to  offer  this  hive  for  sale  at  a  very  moderate 
rate :  and  also  to  furnish  full  and  complete  drawings  of 
every  part  thereof,  to  gentlemen  residing  at  a  distance, 
or  otherwise,  accompanied  by  a  neat  pamphlet,  giving 
the  most  ample  details  in  regard  to  every  thing  con- 
nected with  it,  or  pertaining  to  its  construction  ;  as  well 
as  the  proper  management  of  bees  in  this  kind  of  hive — 
all  for  the  reasonable  sum  of  tico  dollars,  which  will 
entitle  the  applicant  to  make  as  many  hives  as  he  may 
require  for  his  own  use.  As  this  book  will  exist,  when 
the  author  has  past  to  "  that  bourne  whence  no  traveller 
returns,"  the  above  remarks  apply  no  longer  than  it  may 
please  God  to  spare  his  life.  An  advertisement  will 
probably  accompany  each  edition  of  this  work,  rela- 
tive to  furnishing  the  before-named  hive,  or  the  engra- 
vings, &c.,  which  may  be  found  at  the  sequel  of  the 
treatise. 

COLLATERAL  HIVING,  ETC. 

Besides  supering  and  nadiring,  there  is  yet  another 
method  of  obtaining  the  surplus  honey  gathered,  termed 
collateral  hiving.  This  system  consists  in  placing  boxes 
at  the  sides  of  the  hives,  instead  of  over  or  under  them. 
The  following  cut  represents  a  couple  of  boxes  on  this 
plan. 


186  MINjSR's    AMERICAN 


In  one  of  the  above  boxes  the  family  of  bees  is  sup- 
posed to  be  permanent  residents ;  and  if  success  is  to 
crown  the  efforts  of  the  owner,  as  I  view  the  subject, 
the  box  where  the  bees  pass  the  winter,  should  be  a 
foot  square,  or  near  it.  Some  apiarians  think,  that  a 
certain  number  of  inches  in  width  will  cause  the  bees 
to  construct  a  certain  number  of  combs ;  that  is,  a  box 
twelve  and  a  half  inches  square  will  admit  of  nine  combs 
being  made,  whereas,  one  twelve  inches  square  will  only 
afford  room  for  eight  leaves.  According  to  the  width 
of  brood-combs,  and  the  interstices  between,  there  is  an 
abundance  of  space  in  a  box  one  foot  square,  to  con- 
struct nine  combs ;  but  the  bees  will  only  make  eight, 
because  the  outside  leaves  are  generally  store-combs, 
and  thicker  than  those  built  expressly  to  rear  the  larvae 
in.  No  more  than  eight  combs,  as  a  general  rule,  would 
be  built  if  the  other  half  inch  were  added.  I  have  a 
remedy  for  this  difficulty,  which  will  appear  hereafter. 

The  English  method  of  collateral  hiving  on  the  above 
plan,  is  to  have  two  boxes  about  ten  inches  square,  and 
to  be  put  together  with  hinges  on  one  side  ;  and  when 
closed,  secure  *hem  by  a  hook  and  staple.     The  com- 


'  bee-keeper's  manual.  187 

munication  from  one  box  to  the  otlier,  is  by  two  or  three 
such  horizontal  openings  as  appear  in  the  cut,  besides 
that  at  the  bottom.  The  sides  of  the  hives  that  come  in 
contact,  are  but  half  an  inch  thick.,  instead  of  one  inch, 
the  thickness  of  the  other  portions  of  them.  The  covers 
or  tops,  are  screwed  on,  and  the  loose  bars  are  used  as 
represented  in  the  cross-bar  hive  at  page  138.  When 
the  honey  is  taken  from  the  collateral  box,  the  lid  is 
taken  off,  and  the  leaves  of  combs  extracted,  when  the 
bees  return  to  the  original  box. 
* 

RELATIVE  MERITS  OF  SUPERING,  ETC. 

The  foregoing  plan  of  obtaining  the  surplus  honey 
bears  no  comparison  to  supering  or  placing  the  box  over 
that  occupied  by  the  family.  There  is  not  a  solitary 
feature  pertaining  to  it,  that  recommends  its  adoption. 
The  hives  take  up  double  the  usual  room ;  and  the 
quality  of  the  honey  is  inferior  to  that  stored  in  supers, 
being  subject  to  much  more  bee-bread  and  larvae,  and 
besides  this,  the  bees  will  not  produce  as  much  honey 
and  wax  on  this  plan,  as  when  supered  or  nadired. 

There  is  no  plan  equal  to  supering,  when  we  take 
everything  into  consideration.  The  queen  seldom  as- 
cends ;  but  she  will  go  into  collateral  hives,  and  into 
those  placed  under  her  domicil,  and  absolutely  destroy 
the  honey  with  her  brood,  so  far  as  a  ready  sale  or  the 
beauty  of  its  appearance  is  concerned. 

There  are  instances  in  which  the  bees  seem  to  dis- 
relish ascending  into  supers,  even  when  there  is  no  lack 
of  numbers ;  and  the  same  is  the  case  with  collateral 


188 


MINER  S    AMEEICAN 


boxes  and  hives  placed  under  the  family ;  but  there  is 
generally  a  good  reason  fc^r  their  not  entering  and  work- 
ing in  wax,  that  our  eyes  are  closed  to.  In  all  cases  of 
supering,  one  or  two  guide-combs  should  be  secured  to 
the  top  of  the  boxes,  at  the  sides,  and  in  the  natural  po- 
sition. By  this  course,  the  bees  are  attracted  to  the 
boxes  sooner  than  if  no  guide-combs  were  inserted.  I 
do  not  wish  to  be  understood,  that  guide-combs  are  ab- 
solutely necessary ;  because  the  bees  will  work  in  the 
supers,  whether  there  be  any  such  combs  or  not;  pro- 
vided there  be  a  supernumerary  portion  of  workers^ 
existing  ;  yet  they  are  inclined  to  commence  their  labors 
as  I  before  observed,  somewhat  earUer  with  them. 


COLLATERAL  HIVES  JOINED. 


When  the  two  boxes  are  closed,  they  present  the 
above  appearance,  with  the  exception,  that  no  hook  in 
front  is  here  shown  to  hold  them  together. 

If  any  of  my  readers  should  feel  inclined  to  try  this  sys- 
tem, since  there  is  nothing  like  learning  by  experience, 
I  would  recommend  that  the  boxes  be  secured  together 
wholly  by  hooks  and  staples  ;  say,  one  on  top,  and  one 
on  each  side,  at  the  centre.     Have  nothing  to  do  with 


bee-keeper's  manual.  189 

cross-bars ;  but  when  3'ou  take  away  the  honey,  separate 
the  boxes  a  few  inches,  during  24  hours,  and  the  most  of 
the  bees  wil]  return  to  the  old  combs  ;  unless  there  be  a 
large  quantity  of  larvae  among  the  new  ones. 

If  it  be  found  that  the  bees  do  not  desert  the  new 
combs  at  all,  perhaps  the  queen  may  be  among  them,  in 
which  case,  she  would  draw  a  portion,  if  not  all  of  the 
bees  in  the  other  box  after  her,  as  soon  as  they  might 
become  aware  of  their  isolation.  A  very  good  way  is 
to  cause  a  commotion  among  the  tenants  of  both  boxes, 
by  shaking  or  beating  the  hives,  when  the  separation 
takes  place  ;  and  the  bees  will  at  once,  from  instinct, 
endeavor  to  ascertain  whether  the  queen  be  safe,  and 
among  them,  and  the  box  that  does  not  contain  her  will 
be  certain  to  be  evacuated  in  a  great  degree;  and 
wholly,  if  there  be  no  larvee  therein. 

BEES  REMAINING  IN  COLLATERAL  BOXES HOW  GOT 

RID  OF,  ETC. 

When  a  few  hundred  bees  remain  among  the  combs 
of  a  collateral  box,  they  may  be  so  frightened,  as  to  be 
rendered  perfectly  harmless.  All  you  have  to  do,  is  to 
beat  the  box  well  with  a  rod  ;  and  every  comb  may  be 
cut  out  with  the  greatest  facility  ;  and  as  each  comb  is 
withdrawn,  brush  off  the  bees  with  some  soft  brush, 
which  should  be  kept  for  the  use  of  the  apiary.  An  or- 
dinary window  brush,  with  a  handle  a  foot  or  eighteen 
inches  long,  is  what  is  wanted. 


190  MINER  S     AMERICAN 

CASE  IN  WHICH  A  TRANSFER  FROM  OLD  TO  NEW  COMBS 
MAY  BE    EFFECTED. 

If  it  should  happen,  that  the  new  combs  in  a  collateral 
box,  or  even  in  any  other,  whether  placed  above  or  be- 
low, should  be  regularly  constructed ;  that  is,  such  as  are 
used  for  brood-combs  only,  and  devoid  of  those  ill- 
shapen,  thick  store-combs,  that  generally  occupy  all 
extra  room  afforded  the  bees,  in  such  a  case,  it  would  be 
safe  to  effect  a  transfer  from  old  to  new  combs,  on  the 
"  subtended"  plan,  which  I  so  emphatically  condemn. 
There  is  no  general  rule  without  its  exceptions ;  and 
cases  may  occur  in  which  a  transfer  may  be  safely  made, 
if  it  be  done  in  a  manner  that  will  not  endanger  the 
safety  of  the  queen.  The  regular  drone-cells  would  be 
lacking,  but  the  bees  would  change,  or  cut  down  a  por- 
tion of  the  store-cells,  for  the  production  of  drones  in  the 
following  spring.  I  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  fa- 
voring this  system  at  all,  except  in  cases  where  we  know 
that  no  injurious  consequences  can  arise,  which  are  not 
likely  to  occur. 

ONLY  ONE   SUPER  TO  BE  PUT  ON  AT  A  TIME. 

In  placing  hives  over  each  other,  it  is  best  to  place 
but  one  super  at  a  time,  and  when  that  is  filled,  place 
another  box  in  its  position,  and  raise  the  first  one  over 
it.  The  bees,  in  this  case,  having  filled  the  upper  one, 
and  that  box  probably  containing  some  larvee,  they  will 
still  adhere  to  it  to  some  extent ;  and  the  spare  room, 
being  afforded  between  two  bodies  of  bees,  is  sooner  oc- 


bee-keeper's  manual.  191 

cupied  than  when  placed  over  all,  or  when  the  first  box 
is  removed  away,  and  the  second  occupying  its  position, 
with  nothing  above  it. 

BOXES  IN  CHAMBERS  NOT  LIKELY  TO    BE  FILLED  TWICE. 

I  would  also  observe,  that  in  placing  boxes  in  the 
chambers  of  hives  of  a  small  size,  it  is  not  advisable  to 
place  any  dependence  on  having  them  filled  twice  or 
three  times  the  same  season,  as  some  apiarians  assert ; 
because  the  bees  manifest  a  dislike  to  commence  labors 
anew,  when  they  are  robbed  of  their  treasure.  The 
safest  way  is  to  give  them  all  the  space  that  they  can 
pl'obably  fill  at  first,  and  not  disturb  them  at  all,  until  the 
season  of  general  deprivation.  Bees  will,  however' 
often  fill  two  sets  of  small  boxes  in  a  good  season ;  but 
it  is  bad  policy  to  trust  to  their  doing  so. 

TIME  TO  TAKE  AWAY  SUPERS. 

The  question  may  here  arise,  at  what  time  should  the 
supers  be  taken  off?  It  depends,  to  some  extent,  upon 
the  nature  of  the  bee-pasturage  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
apiary  ;  that  is,  the  main  reliance  of  the  bees  for  their 
gatherings.  If  it  be  white  clover  mainlv,  the  first  of 
August  is  the  proper  time  ;  or  perhaps  at  any  time  du- 
ring that  month.  If  the  supers  be  left  until  September 
or  October,  the  combs  are  apt  to  become  blackened,  in 
consequence  of  the  bees  constantly  passing  over  them. 
There  are  instances  often,  when  the  boxes  in  chambers 
may  be  removed  in  June ;  and  where  the  boxes  are 
found    perfectly   filled,   and    the  cells  sealed    over,    it 


192  miner's    AMERICAN 

is  as  well  to  remove  them  at  once,  and  substitute 
others  with  a  guide-comb,  and  if  you  get  another  har- 
vest, very  well ;  if  not,  no  harm  is  done. 

The  honey,  if  left  in  boxes,  should  be  covered  with 
paper,  or  cloths,  perfectly  tight,  in  order  to  keep  out  in- 
sects. If  the  boxes  be  intended  for  market,  bottoms 
should  be  made  for  them,  and  laid  aside,  and  put  on 
when  the  supers  are  withdrawn  from  the  chambers,  after 
driving  out  the  bees. 

HOW  TO  DRIVE  BEES   FROM  THE  BOXES,  ETC. 

You  would,  perhaps,  like  to  know  how  to  get  the  bees 
out  of  the  boxes  with  the  least  trouble.  In  order  to  dis- 
turb the  family  as  little  as  possible,  carry  your  boxes  to 
any  dark  place,  where  the  bees  can  find  their  way  out, 
by  a  little  light  being  admitted  near  them,  and  in  the 
course  of  the  day  the  most  of  the  bees  will  have  depart- 
ed, and  returned  home.  Care  must  be  taken  not  to 
leave  the  boxes  where  other  bees  will  scent  them  out, 
and  be  attracted  to  them;  unless  you  wish  to  divide 
pretty  freely  with  them.  You  can,  if  you  please,  drive 
out  the  bees  at  once,  with  a  rod  which  should  be  applied 
pretty  freely  to  the  sides  of  the  boxes,  with  the  open  bot- 
toms upwards.  This  way  requires  a  person  to  be  well 
protected  by  a  bee-dress  ;  but  it  n  akes  the  bees  more 
Irritable  than  the  other  method.  In  taking  out  the 
boxes,  the  greatest  care  should  be  observed  to  not  crush 
many  bees,  as  this  arouses  their  anger  to  its  greatest 
height. 


BEE-KEEPER  S  MANUAL.  193 

OBSERVATORY  HIVE. 

Every  apiarian  who  has  leisure  to  study  the  habits 
and  economy  of  the  bee,  should  have  one  observatory 
hive ;  that  is,  a  hive  with  only  a  single  comb,  of  suffi- 
cient magnitude  to  afford  space  for  the  entire  operations 
of  a  moderate-sized  family.  This  hive,  of  course,  must 
be  very  narrow,  merely  affording  the  necessary  room  to 
build  one  comb,  and  that  must  be  brood-comb ;  and 
allow  space  on  each  side  for  the  bees  to  labor,  but  not 
to  cluster  thickly. 

The  ordinary  width  of  a  brood-comb  is  about  an  inch, 
and  the  bees  require  at  least  three-eighths  of  an  inch 
space  on  each  side ;  consequently,  the  distance  between 
the  glass  sides  should  be,  say,  one  inch  and  three  quar- 
ters. One  and  five-eighths  inch  wide  will  do  very  well, 
and  perhaps  just  as  well  as  to  add  the  other  eighth  of  an 
inch ;  yet  I  think  the  safest  way  would  be,  to  make  the 
width  as  I  first  stated ;  because,  if  the  bees  should  be 
pressed  into  too  close  quarters,  it  would,  perhaps,  affect 
their  regular  labors  materially. 

The  area  of  the  sides  of  such  a  hive  should  be,  at 
least,  two  feet  long,  and  eighteen  inches  high ;  but  a 
single  comb  of  such  large  dimensions,  would  require  a 
support  in  the  centre  of  the  hive.  Here  is  a  cut  show- 
ing the  form  of  such  a  hive,  with  cross-bars  through  the 
centre  both  ways,  as  a  support  to  the  combs. 


194 


MINERS    AMERICAN 


These  bars  should  be  about  one  inch  wide  and  half 
an  inch  thick,  supporting  each  other  in  the  middle,  at 
the  junction.  This  size  would  simj)ly  occupy  the  same 
space  in  width  that  the  combs  will ;  consequently,  the 
bees  will  have  perfect  freedom  in  passing  over  any  part 
of  the  interior  of  the  hive. 

The  above  cut  represents  the  comb  in  progress  of 

construction  in  each  division  of  the  hive.     The  bees 

will  often  do  this  in  this  manner,  when  unable  to  work 

to  advantage  at  a  single  point.     They  will  even  work 

upwards,  when  no  other  means  affords  labor   to  the 

whole  of  the  family.     Here  is  a  cut  showing  the  manner 

in  which  they  work  upwards  and  downwards  at  the  same 
time. 


The  cross-bars  in  these  two  cases  aflbrd  them  an  op- 
portunity of  working  upwards  and  downwards ;  when, 
if  no  bars  were  inserted,  the  bees  would  be  compelled 
to  work  from  the  top  only,  since  the  distance  from  the 
loof  to  the  floor,  woulu  deter  them  from  commencing  at 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL. 


195 


the  bottom.  So  perfect  is  the  skill  and  architecture  of 
this  insect,  that  the  parts  of  combs  are  united  at  the 
apex  of  each,  with  such  astonishing  workmanship,  that 
it  is  impossible  to  perceive  where  the  union  takes  place, 
or  any  difference  from  a  comb  worked  down  entirely  in 
the  usual  way. 

In  fitting  in  the  cross-bars,  care  should  be  taken  to 
have,  at  least,  three-eighths  of  an  inch  space  between 
the  edges  of  them  and  the  glass  sides  of  the  hive ;  since 
a  less  space  than  that  would,  not  give  the  bees  a  pas- 
sage-way of  sufficient  diameter. 

From  this  kind  of  hive,  pieces  of  brood-comb  may  be 
easily  taken,  when  larvae  are  wanted  to  form  artificial 
swarms,  or  for  the  purpose  of  replacing  a  lost  queen. 
In  order  to  obtain  easy  access  to  the  combs,  the  glass 
sides  should  be  hung  on  hinges,  so  as  to  be  opened  at 
any  time,  and  admit  the  apiarian  to  perform  any  opera- 
tion within,  that  he  may  choose.  The  glass  sides  or 
windows  should  be  divided  in  the  centre,  and  open  each 
way,  or  right  and  left.  Here  is  an  engraving  of  one  side 
of  the  hive,  with  the  two  irlass  doors  closed. 


The  doors  should  be  hung  with  small  butt-lunges  on 
each  side,  being  secured  in  their  places  when  closed,  by 


196  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

a  wooden  or  brass  button  in  the  centre  of  the  upright 
standard,  against  which,  in  a  rabbet  made  for  that  pur- 
pose, they  close.  The  glass  doors  will  each  contain  a 
pane  of  glass  about  one  foot  wide  and  18  inches  long, 
allowing  that  the  inside  of  the  hive  measures  two  feet 
by  18  inches,  as  it  should  measure.  The  frames  for  the 
doors  may  sink  into  a  rabbet,  planed  out  of  the  main 
frame  of  the  hive,  and  thus  admit  of  glass  being  used  in 
them,  of  such  size  as  to  cover  almost  the  entire  surface 
of  the  hive.  The  frames  for  these  doors  should  be  as 
light  as  possible,  and  be  durable  and  firm. 

Outside  of  the  glass  doors,  are  to  be  a  couple  of  close 
shutters ;  since  the  bees  will  not  carry  on  their  labors 
when  exposed  to  the  light,  for  any  considerable  length 
of  time.  The  outer  doors  are  to  be  hung  with  butts, 
also,  and  they  should  sink  into  a  rabbet  in  the  frame, 
exterior  to  that  made  for  the  inner  doors.  The  frame 
for  the  body  of  the  hive  should  be  made  of  inch  and  a 
quarter  plank,  pine  if  you  please ;  and  every  joiner  can 
make  his  own  calculation,  relative  to  the  proper  width 
and  thickness,  to  render  the  whole  substantial,  when 
finished.  The  diameter  bctiveen  the  two  glass  doors,  is 
to  be  one  inch  and  tJiree-quarters.  This  is  a  "fixed 
fact,"  we  will  suppose.  The  frames  for  said  doors  need 
not  be  over  half  an  inch  thick,  and  the  glass  can  be 
secured  in  the  frame,  and  be  flush,  or  even  with  the  in- 
side thereof  The  outside  doors  need  not  be  over  half 
on  inch  thick  also,  with  clamps  nailed  across  the  ends, 
to  keep  them  from  warping.  Now  we  have  one  and 
tiu'ee-quarters  inches  to  begin  with,  for  the  diameter  of 


bee-keeper's  manual.  197 

the  inside,  half  an  inch  for  each  door,  and  being  two  on 
each  side,  make  three  and  three-quarters  inches,  as  the 
whole  diameter  of  the  frame,  allowing  that  all  the  doors 
are  sunk  into  rabbets  equal  to  their  several  thicknesses. 
A  joiner  must  be  dull  indeed,  who  cannot  now  make  the 
frame-work  of  an  observatory  hive,  from  the  foregoing 
illustrations. 

The  outside  doors,  when  closed,  may  be  secured  in 
their  places  by  a  button  at  the  top,  on  the  frame  of  the 
hive. 

In  the  foregoing  cut,  the  outside  doors  are  shown  as 
being  thrown  open. 

After  this  observatory  hive  is  made  as  already  de- 
fined, the  question  arises,  how  is  it  to  be  supported  in 
its  upright  position?  This  is  very  easy  to  perform. 
Take  a  board,  say  two  and  a  half  feet  long  and  eighteen 
inches  wide ;  plane  and  smooth  it  nicely ;  nail,  if  you 
please  clamps  across  each  end,  to  prevent  its  warping ; 
then  attach  it  to  the  under  side  of  the  frame  of  the  hive 
with  screws,  having  the  frame  in  the  centre  of  the  board, 
lengthwise.  The  board  may  be  narrower  or  wider  than 
the  before-named  diameter;  but  it  should  be  of  such 
width  as  to  prevent  the  hive  from  falling  over.  This 
kind  of  hive  should  be  placed  entirely  under  cover,  be- 
yond the  reach  of  rains  and  the  rays  of  the  sun,  during 
the  heat  of  the  day. 

There  is  yet  another  important  consideration  before 
we  finish  with  this  hive.  We  have  it  finished  except 
the  entrance  for  the  bees,  and  that  is  quite  necessary. 
The  places  of  ingress  and  egress  may  be  made  by  cut- 


198  MINERS    AMERICAN 

ting  out  an  apperture  from  the  lower  section  of  the 
frame,  under  the  two  doors.  This  passage  may  be  six 
inches  long  and  half  an  inch  deep,  on  each  side  of  the 
hive ;  thus  affording  the  bees  the  facility  of  passing  out 
in  two  directions. 

The  object  of  a  hive  of  this  character  is,  to  witness 
the  operations  of  the  different  classes  of  bees, — to  see 
how  the  workers  discharge  their  burdens — how  the  iar- 
vas  are  fed,  if  you  can — how  the  queen  is  treated  by 
drones  and  workers — how  she  deposits  her  eggs — her 
treatment  of  young  princesses,  when  sacrificed  by  her — 
her  power  to  excite  the  bees  to  swarm,  and  many  other 
interesting  developments  of  deep  interest  to  the  scien- 
tific apiarian. 

huber's  observatory  hive. 

Huber  constructed  an  observatory  hive,  consisting  of 
eight  frames,  hung  on  butt-hinges,  and  secured  by  hooks 
and  eyes  when  closed.  There  were  glass  windows  in 
the  outside  frames  only.  When  he  wished  to  witness 
the  labors  of  the  bees  in  the  interior  of  the  hive,  he 
opened  the  leaves  as  we  would  those  of  a  book.  The 
bees  having  become  accustomed  to  have  their  hive 
opened  in  this  manner,  were  not  annoyed  by  the  opera- 
tion. In  opening  the  leaves  of  such  a  hive,  the  opera- 
tor must  be  very  steady  in  all  his  movements,  as  sudden 
jars  tend  more  to  arouse  a  fam'4y  of  bees,  than  any  other 
interference  with  them.  A  hive  full  of  bees  to  its  great- 
est capacity,  may,  at  any  time,  be  turned  over  carefully 
and  set  down  on  its  top,  without  any  protection  to  the 


bee-keeper's  manual.  199 

operator  ;  provided,  that  the  hive  receives  no  jar  in  the 
operation.  The  setting  down  of  the  hive  on  its  top, 
must  be  done  in  so  careful  a  manner,  that  the  bees  will 
not  feel  the  force  of  it.  Let  but  a  slight  mishap  occur 
from  inattention  on  the  part  of  the  apiarian,  and  a  hun- 
dred bees  will  dart  at  his  face  and  show  him  no  mercy. 
The  success  of  all  operations  with  bees  rests  on  the  use 
of  a  steady  hand.  Not  the  least  attention  should  be 
paid  to  their  attacks  upon  you,  when  you  are  perfectly 
protected ;  and  you  should  never  attempt  to  do  any  act 
pertaining  to  them,  involving  the  least  liability  of  being 
stung,  without  full  protection  to  every  exposed  part  of 
your  person.  Running  and  dodging  to  get  out  of  the 
way  of  bees,  is  but  an  incentive  to  still  further  attacks 
from  them. 

I  have  not  considered  it  expedient  to  give  a  cut  of 
Ruber's  leaf  hive,  for  the  reason,  that  -I  do  not  believe 
that  any  of  my  readers  would  ever  attempt  to  construct 
one  of  the  kind.  It  is  expensive,  cumbrous  and  useless ; 
since  all  that  we  desire  to  see  may  be  v/itnessed  by  the 
use  of  the  single  leaf  hive,  that  I  have  described. 

In  the  use  of  my  leaf  hive  as  before  described,  there 
may  be  some  difficulty  in  getting  a  swarm  to  enter,  pro- 
vided the  bee-keeper  has  had  no  experience  in  this  busi- 
ness. A  large  swarm  should  never  be  selected  for  a 
leaf  hive.  The  opening  for  the  bees  to  enter  on  each 
side,  should  be  much  larger  than  those  that  I  have  dis- 
cribed  for  other  hives,  to  be  used  in  winter,  in  order  to 
afford  the  greater  facility  to  the  swarm  in  entering  the 
hive.     These  openings  may  be  cut  on  a  bevel,  sloping 


200  MINER  S  AMERICAN 

down  to  the  board  upon  which  the  frame  stands.  If  the 
apiarian  choose,  he  may  make  any  openings  for  the 
swarm  to  enter,  that  his  own  judgment  may  suggest ; 
for  instance,  holes  may  be  bored  an  inch  in  diameter  in 
the  end  pieces  of  the  frame,  and  near  the  floor  of  the 
hive,  and  when  the  bees  are  hived,  they  can  be  plugged 
up  or  left  open.  I  should  leave  them  open  in  very  warm 
weather.  If  it  be  found  that  the  bees  will  not  readily 
enter,  one  door  may  be  opened  a  few  inches,  and  a  cloth 
thrown  over  the  hive,  to  extend  down  to  within  an  inch 
or  two  of  the  bottom ;  then  the  bees  will  enter,  and  at 
evening  when  they  are  fully  clustered  within,  the  door 
may  be  closed.  Perhaps  the  door  may  have  to  be  closed 
by  degrees,  say  partly  at  evening  and  fully  in  the  morn- 
ing, in  consequence  of  a  portion  of  the  bees  clustering 
along  the  rabbet,  into  which  the  door  closes. 

There  are  many  things  pertaining  to  the  management 
of  bees,  that  must  ever  be  treated  according  to  the  best 
o!f  the  apiarian's  judgment.  Every  case  that  may  come 
within  the  scope  of  his  experience,  cannot  be  anticipated 
in  any  work  on  this  subject;  therefore,  if  any  one 
should,  at  any  time,  find  himself  in  a  dilemma  in  his 
management  of  this  insect,  and  find  no  especial  rule  in 
this  Manual  for  his  guidance,  let  him  use  the  best  of 
his  judgment,  according  to  the  general  principles  here 
laid  down.  I  do  not  think  that  anything  of  a  serious 
nature  will  ever  occur  to  any  one  engaged  in  the  cul- 
ture of  the  bee,  from  which  I  shall  be  accused  of  with- 
holding information,  that  I  ought  to  have  given  to  the 
public.     That  I  shall  omit  some  things  that  would  be 


bee-keeper's  manual.  201 

well  to  insert,  I  have  no  doubt.  Indeed,  to  write  a  work 
of  this  character,  and  not  do  so,  w^ould  be  beyond  the 
power  of  man. 

Hei'e  is  something  in  point.  I  came  very  near  for- 
getting to  inform  you,  that  before  you  place  a  swarm  in 
your  observatory  hive,  you  should  attach  two  or  three 
pieces  of  guide-comb  to  the  roof  of  the  hive.  Take  the 
tips  or  edges  of  any  new  comb  that  you  can  obtain  ; 
say  pieces  two  or  three  inches  long,  by  an  inch  or  more 
wide ;  cut  them  off  evenly  and  smoothly,  with  a  sharp 
carving-knife ;  and  then,  with  the  aid  of  a  little  melted 
bees- wax,  attach  them  in  the  centre  of  the  upper  section 
of  the  frame  or  roof  of  the  hive.  Perhaps  I  may  as  well 
inform  you  at  this  place,  how  to  melt  the  bees-wax  in 
the  best  manner,  and  how  to  attach  the  comb. 

In  the  first  place,  you  want  a  little  tin  pan  about  six 
inches  long,  and  three  or  four  inches  wide,  and  one  inch 
deep.  Place  your  bees-w^ax  into  this  pan  and  melt  it ; 
then  take  a  small  brush,  about  as  large  around  as  a  pipe- 
bowl  and  lay  some  of  the  melted  wax,  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible, upon  the  place  where  your  piece  of  comb  is  to  be 
attached  ;  and  before  the  wax  thus  laid  on  has  time 
to  cool,  you  should  dip  that  edge  of  the  piece  of  comb 
to  be  secured  in  position,  into  the  pan  as  quickly  as 
possible,  taking  it  out  quickly  to  prevent  its  melting,  and 
as  soon  as  a  coating  of  wax  is  obtained,  then  join  it  to 
that  laid  on  the  roof  of  the  hive,  taking  particular  care 
not  to  move  the  comb  in  the  least,  after  its  first  adjust- 
ment. This  whole  operation  must  be  done  with  a  dex- 
trous hand,  while  the  wax  is  yet  pliable,  on  the  roof,  as 


202  miner's    AMERICAN 

well  as  on  the  comb  to  be  attached.  The  first  trial  will 
prove  a  failure  with  the  amateur  apiarian,  I  have  no 
doubt.  With  old  combs,  the  difficulty  of  attaching  is 
not  sb  great  as  with  new  combs,  that  are  tender  and 
brittle.  New  combs  will  melt,  when  put  into  the  hot 
wax,  very  easily ;  and  it  requires  considerable  skill  to 
perform  the  operation  successfully.  When  the  piece  of 
comb  is  attached  in  its  position,  which  must  be  in  pre- 
cisely the  same  place  that  the  bees  require  it,  always 
giving  about  half  an  inch  space  on  either  side  for  the 
bees  to  pass  over,  then  it  may  be  necessary  to  give  it 
further  security,  since  the  weight  of  the  cluster  of  bees 
will  often  disconnect  it,  when  we  think  it  perfectly  firm 
in  its  attachment.  The  further  security  may  be  given 
by  dipping  the  brush  into  the  melted  wax,  and  rubbing 
a  little  on  at  the  ends  of  the  combs,  which  being  pressed 
firmly  by  the  thumb  in  connection  with  a  few  of  the 
end  cells,  the  whole,  when  cooled,  will  afford  perfect 
security. 

The  brush  that  I  use,  is  a  small  paint-brush,  but  any 
one  can  make  a  brush  with  bristles  or  hair,  to  answer 
the  purpose.  When  no  brush  is  at  hand,  a  swab  made 
by  tying  a  rag  on  the  end  of  a  stick  will  do  in  the  place 
of  something  better  ;  but  here  I  am  doing  wrong  to  ini- 
tiate  the  apiarian  into  habits  of  carelessness,  in  not  hav- 
ing such  things  at  hand,  as  he  should  have,  in  order  to 
operate  with  facility  and  success.  I  condemn  half-way 
work  ;  and  a  man  that  feels  interest  enough  in  bees  to 
purchase  a  swarm,  should  feel  interest  enough  in  their 
proper  management,  to  have  such  things  as  are  neces- 
9* 


bee-keeper's  manual.  203 

sary,  to  carry  that  management  into  successful  opera- 
tion, when  the  cost  and  trouble  of  obtaining  them  is  not 
of  the  least  account. 

EUROPEAN    HIVES. 

The  majority  of  bee-keepers  of  the  old  world  still  use 
the  common  straw  hive,  in  consequence  of  its  cheap- 
ness, or  from  prejudice.  I  say  the  majority — this  in- 
cludes the  cottagers,  who  compose  a  majority  of  those 
who  keep  bees  in  the  old  world.  The  hives  used  by 
the  many  scientific  apiarians  of  England,  France  and 
Germany,  are  mostly  of  wood,  and  of  every  shape  and 
size  that  can  be  imagined.  The  box-hives,  as  repre- 
sented at  page  141,  are  in  use  to  a  considerable  exent — 
that  is,  the  same  principle  ;  but  no  two  bee-keepers  unite 
on  the  same  dimensions !  .Huish  adheres  to  straw  hives 
still,  with  a  cover  on  top  to  be  raised,  and  having  cross- 
bars to  his  hives,  as  represented  at  page  138;  he  cuts 
out  one  or  two  leaves  or  combs  when  the  bees  can  spare 
them,  and  in  this  manner  takes  all  the  surplus  honey 
that  the  bees  can  aftbrd.  I  consider  this  method  unwor- 
thy of  notice,  except  to  show  the  folly  of  men  at  this  late 
day,  in  thus  adhering  to  a  custom  that  is  founded  in 
ignorance  and  prejudice. 

Of  all  the  various  styles  of  hives  used  in  England,  and 
on  the  continent,  I  find  none  that  I  can  recommend  to 
the  bee-keeping  community.  There  is  the  same  de- 
sire for  experiment  and  novelty  exhibited  there,  that 
is  manifested  here.  Occasionally  a  hive  is  brought 
forth  as  doing  wonders;  but  a  few  years'  experience 


204  miner's    AMERICAN 

consigns  it  to  oblivion.  The  same  spirit  is  extant  there, 
that  in  our  own  country  cries  "  vive  le  bagatelle ;"  and 
inventors  are  never  at  a  loss  to  find  a  public  to  fleece  of 
their  loose  cash,  in  exchange  for  hives,  not  worth  the 
nails  that  hold  them  together. 

POLISH  HIVES. 

As  a  matter  of  curiosity,  I  will  give  a  brief  descrip- 
tion of  the  kind  of  hive  used  in  Russia,  Poland,  and 
other  adjacent  countries.  It  is  made  of  staves  like  a 
churn,  being  largest  at  the  base.  Its  length  is  about  two 
feet,  and  its  breadth  at  the  base  about  15  inches.  The 
staves  are  thick  and  clumsy,  and  the  dimensions  inside 
are  not  much  over  ordinary  box-hives.  The  upper  half 
of  the  hive  is  wound  closely  with  rope ;  in  order  to  pro- 
tect it  from  the  heat  of  the  sun  and  from  dampness.  A 
board  closes  the  opening  at  the  top.  In  the  fall  of  the 
year,  the  cutting  out  of  a  portion  of  combs  takes  place, 
according  to  the  productiveness  of  the  season.  A  stave 
is  removed  which  does  not  extend  beyond  the  lower 
coil  of  rope,  and  the  cottager,  with  knife  in  hand,  and 
smoke  apparatus  convenient,  commences  operations. 
When  the  bees  come  out  rather  furiously,  a  whiff"  of 
smoke  drives  them  in  again,  and  in  this  manner  he  takes 
away  as  much  honey  as  he  thinks  can  be  safely  spared, 
and  have  enough  for  winter  use ;  and  this  method  is 
considered  the  acme  of  perfection. 

DIRECTIONS  FOR  MAKING  HIVES. 

(iood,  sound  inch,  pine  boards,  thoroughly  seasoned, 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  205 

are  suitable  for  bee-hives.  Some  recommend  inch  and 
a  quarter  plank ;  but  such  are  not  necessary.  In  south- 
ern latitudes,  the  hives  will  require  being  better  secured 
from  the  heat  of  the  sun,  than  at  the  north ;  but  no  dif- 
ference in  the  material  for  their  manufacture  is  required. 
It  is  true,  that  plank  will  make  a  better  hive  than  boards : 
yet,  as  a  general  rule,  boards  must  be  used,  since  plank 
do  not  come  of  a  proper  width  in  all  cases ;  and,  besides 
.that  objection,  they  are  dearer  than  boards.  Plank 
makes  a  heavy,  clumsy  hive,  and  they  are  objectionable 
on  that  point.  Nothing  less  than  boards  full  one  inch 
thick,  will  answer ;  or  rather,  boards  of  a  less  thickness 
should  never  be  used,  because  the  different  changes  of 
heat  and  cold  would  affect  the  bees  much  more  in  hives 
made  of  thiner  ones. 

There  has  been  some  controversy  in  regard  to  the 
best  material  for  the  construction  of  hives.  Some  apia- 
rians have  recommended  one  kind  and  some  another 
kind  of  boards  for  their  manufacture  ;  but  after  all,  the 
grand  secret  of  success  in  bee-culture  lies  not  in  the 
wood  of  which  the  hives  are  made.  Dr.  Smith,  of  Bos- 
ton, an  apiarian  of  considerable  celebrity,  strongly 
recommends  red  cedar  for  the  especial  purpose  of  keep- 
ing out  the  bee-moth.  I  have  no  doubt  of  red  cedar 
being  an  excellent  material  to  make  hives  of;  and  were 
it  as  plenty  and  as  cheap  as  white  pine  lumber,  I  should 
say,  use  it  by  all  means.  In  regard  to  its  keeping  out 
the  moths,  I  do  not  believe  any  such  thing.  I  believe, 
that  if  any  wood  possess  an  odor  so  offensive  as  to  pre- 


200  miner's    AMERICAN 

vent  a  bee-moth  ^roin  entering  a  hive,  the  same  odor 
will  drive  away  every  bee  also. 

DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  JOINER. 

The  joiner,  in  constructing  the  hives,  should  be  very 
particular  to  have  close  joints ;  as  every  open  joint  will 
be  filled  by  the  bees  with  propolis,  at  a  great  expense  of 
their  valuable  time.  The  nailing  of  the  hives  should  be 
particularly  attended  to,  as  they  are  liable  to  spring  open, 
after  being  exposed  to  the  weather  a  few  months.  No- 
thing less  than  tenpenny  nails  will  answer  the  purpose ; 
and  then,  some  of  them  should  be  driven  obliquely,  or 
v.'hat  the  joiner  calls  toed,  which  will  prevent  the  joints 
opening.  The  safest  way,  however,  is  to  halve  out,  or 
rabbet  the  edges  of  the  boards,  so  that  when  put  together, 
they  may  be  nailed  hoili  ways. 

The  doors  to  the  windows  should  be  beveled  on  every 
side,  except  where  they  are  hung ;  and  the  door- way  of 
the  hive  should  have  a  corresponding  bevel.  This  pre- 
vents xDpen  joints,  and  the  doors  not  closing  in  damp 
weather.  Every  door  should  be  clamped  at  each  end, 
to  prevent  warping,  and  so  should  the  floor-boards  also. 

Where  hives  are  exposed  to  the  sun  a  portion  of  the 
day,  it  requires  the  greatest  care  to  keep  many  parts  of 
them  from  warping  out  of  their  proper  shape. 

A  thin  strip  may  Tdc  run  around  the  inside  of  the 
window,  with  a  rabbet,  to  receiv^e  the  glass.  Let  this 
strip  be  as  thin  as  possible.  When  the  glass  is  in  its 
place,  a  brad  driven  in  against  it  will  keep  it  in  its  posi- 
tion.    Don't  forget  the  cross  sticks  to  be  placed  in  the 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  207 

hives,  to  run  from  corner  to  corner  diagonally,  and  in 
the  centre.  A  brad  in  each  end  will  hold  them  fast. 
These  sticks  should  be  half  an  inch  square,  or  more. 

In  making  the  box-hive,  as  shown  at  page  153,  the 
super  or  upper  section  will  require  dowelling;  that  is,  a 
couple  of  wooden  pins  at  two  of  the  corners,  to  sink  into 
holes  made  in  the  roof  of  the  lower  section,  in  order  to 
hold  the  super  in  its  proper  position.  The  pins  should 
not  be  sunk  into  the  roof  over  half  an  inch,  and  they 
should  be  placed  at  the  diagonal  corners. 

The  boxes  for  the  chambers  of  hives  represented  at 
page  158,  should  be  made  of  the  thinest  materials  that 
can  be  obtained.  Whitewood  will  do  very  well,  but 
any  material  of  the  thickness  of  segar  boxes  is  much 
better.  A  groove  is  plowed  out  near  the  front  end,  to 
receive  the  glass.  No  bottoms  are  required  for  these 
boxes,  as  I  have  already  explained,  in  the  description  of 
chamber-hives.  There  is  a  difficulty  arising,  when  the 
boxes  are  withdrawn  from  the  chambers  filled  with 
"honey,  in  the  manner  of  cutting  out  the  combs  with  fa- 
cility. What  we  then  wish  is,  to  be  able  to  sever  the 
combs  from  the  top  of  the  box.  It  is  quite  easy  to  cut 
the  ends  and  sides,  but  unless  we  have  a  knife  made  with 
a  right  angle,  we  cannot  separate  the  attachments  on 
the  upper  side,  without  taking  an  end  or  a  side  oif. 
Now,  it  is  necessary  that  every  apiarian  should  have 
such  a  knife,  with  an  angle,  as  I  shall  give  a  cut  of  here- 
after ;  but  not  one  in  ten  will  probably  ever  provide  one ; 
consequently,  I  must  give  such  directions  in  making 


208  miner's     AMERICAN 

these  boxes,  as  to  obviate;  in  a  measure,  the  necessity  of 
such  an  instrument. 

The  way  to  construct  the  boxes,  is  simply  as  follows, 
viz :  let  the  back  ends  of  them  be  covered  by  the  end 
pieces  over  the  ends  of  sides  and  bottoms ;  that  is,  in 
such  a  manner  that  they  can  be  taken  off  with  the  great- 
est facility.  If  no  directions  be  given  on  this  point,  the 
joiner  will  slide  the  ends  down  between  the  sides ;  but 
this  is  wrong;  they  should  be  on  the  outside  of  all,  so 
that  they  can  be  removed  easily.  Every  part  of  the 
boxes,  except  the  ends,  should  be  fastened  with  inch 
brads,  but  the  ends  should  be  secured  with  the  smallest 
Drads  that  will  hold  them  in  their  place,  and  as  few  to 
be  used  as  possible.  When  the  honey  is  to  be  taken 
out  of  a  box  thus  arranged,  a  knife  is  to  be  run  down  at 
the  end  and  sever  the  combs ;  then  take  off  the  end,  and 
run  the  knife  along  the  top  of  the  box  horizontally,  and 
the  work  is  done  at  once :  then  replace  the  end  of  the 
box,  and  it  is  ready  for  use  again. 

PAINTING  HIVES. 

When  your  hives  are  made,  you  will  wish  to  know 
what  color  they  should  be  painted.  Some  apiarians 
recommend  white  as  the  proper  color,  since  that  color 
does  not  draw  the  rays  of  the  sun ;  but  others  object  to 
white,  because  it  attracts  the  moth-miller  in  the  night, 
more  than  darker  colors.  I  do  not  think  it  makes  a 
whit  of  difference,  whether  your  hives  are  white,  red, 
black  or  grey,  so  far  as  the  general  prosperity  of  the  bees 
is  concerned.     We  should  have  a  durable  color;  one 


bee-keeper's  manual.  209 

that  will  stand  the  weather  well.  I  have  used  a  choco- 
late color  with  good  results.  I  make  it  thus  : — take 
white  lead  and  raw  oil,  with  which  mix  Venitian  red 
and  lamp-black,  to  produce  the  color  desired.  The  rela- 
tive quantities  of  each  can  be  ascertained  by  any  per- 
son, when  the  same  is  mixed.  The  white  lead  and  oil 
should  be  mixed  first,  then  add  the  lamp-black  to  pro- 
duce a  lead  color;  then  the  Venitian  red,  and  you  have 
the  shade  desired.  Raw  oil  stands  exposure  to  the 
weather  much  better  than  boiled  oil ;  yet  if  you  wish  to 
have  your  hives  dry  speedily,  and  if  the  weather  be  not 
very  favorable  for  such  a  result,  you  can  use  a  little 
litharge,  or,  if  you  please,  a  ittle  boiled  with  the  raw  oil. 


CH  AFTER    XIV 


J.D.FEL.nli-^'^ 


BEE-HOUSES. 

The  above  engraving  represents  an  ornamental  bee- 
house,  from  an  original  design,  executed  expressly  for 
this  work.  It  is  not  intended  for  general  use,  but  as  an 
ornament   to  gentlemen's  grounds  or  flower   gardens. 


eee-keeper's  manual.  211 

This  is  the  first  design  of  this  nature,  that  has  been  laid 
before  the  public,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge.  In  all 
the  various  works  on  the  honey-bee,  published  in  the  old 
world,  I  find  nothing  but  the  ordinary  bee-standsof  ages 
past,  or  simple  sheds  of  no  more  beauty  than  a  pig-sty 
or  a  hen-roost.  That  such  a  structure  would  truly  be 
an  ornament  to  the  flower  garden,  every  one  will  admit. 
Why,  then,  should  such  bee-houses  not  be  erected  ? 
The  cost  will  not  be  much.  Fifty  dollars  will  suffice  to 
cover  it. 

SHAPE,   ETC. 

It  will  be  perceived,  that  the  foregoing  cut  represents 
an  octangular  building ;  that  is,  one  having  eight  angles 
or  sides.  This  affords  accommodation  for  eight  hives, 
or  one  to  each  angle.  The  height  should  be  suflicient 
to  allow  a  person  to  walk  under  the  lower  extremity  of 
the  roof  with  facility,  and  no  higher ;  consequently,  the 
p(j^ts  should  be  about  seven  feet  long.  The  roof  should 
project  over  beyond  the  posts  two  feet,  at  least,  in  order 
to  shade  the  hives  during  the  heat  of  the^ay.  The 
style  of  architecture  may  vary  according  to  the  taste  of 
the  owner ;  yet  the  style  of  the  foregoing  cut  is  not  un- 
becoming, by  any  means.  Instead  of  having  a  floor,  as 
is  here  represented,  the  posts  may  be  inserted  in  the 
ground  about  two  and  a  half  feet ;  and  the  area  within 
the  posts,  may  be  graveled,  so  as  to  have  a  neat  and  tidy 
appearance.  The  portion  of  the  posts  placed  in  the 
ground,  should  be  left  untouched,  and  as  large  as  possi- 
ble.    These  posts  may  either  be  turned,  as  they  appear 


212  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

in  the  cut,  or  they  may  be  boxed  in,  and  made  with 
suitable  mouldings,  to  look  very  well.  If  they  be  set 
into  the  ground,  they  should  be  of  some  kind  of  durable 
wood  ;  and  the  ends  to  be  put  below  the  surface,  ought 
to  be  charred  with  fire,  to  prevent  decay.  With  box- 
columns  or  posts,  the  style  of  architecture  should  be 
changed.  A  cornice  should  be  run  around  the  struc- 
ture ;  a  dental  cornice,  perhaps,  would  look  well.  Every 
builder,  however,  will  know  how  to  give  the  best  effect 
to  the  general  appearance  of  the  structure.  If  the  posts 
be  not  inserted  in  the  ground,  let  the  floor  be  laid,  and 
ordinary  joists  measuring  three  by  four  inches,  will  do 
for  the  columns,  if  boxed  in.  In  this  case,  it  will,  per- 
haps, require  some  support  to  prevent  the  structure  from 
being  blown  over  in  a  gale.  Three  or  four  posts  sunk 
into  the  ground  even  with  the  floor,  and  made  fast 
thereto,  would  be  all  that  is  necessary. 

ROOF HOW  PAINTED,  ETC. 

The  roof  of  this  structure  should  be  of  tin,  and  painted 
a  brown  o*stbne  color,  or  any  shade  that  may  be  de- 
sired. If,  however,  it  can  be  covered  with  shingles,  let 
it  be  done.  Shingles  will  look  as  well  as  tin,  if  neatly 
put  on. 

There  may  or  may  not  be,  a  ceiling  under  the  roof. 
It  will  look  better  with  one,  and  the  cost  will  be  but  a 
trifle. 

SIZE,  CIRCUMFEEENCE,  ETC. 

The  size  of  the  house  should  be  about  twenty  feet  in 


bee-keeper's  manual.  213 

circumference,  so  as  to  allow  full  two  feet  between  the 
columns.  This  is  the  smallest  space  that  hives  can  oc- 
cupy to  advantage.  The  circumference  of  the  base  of 
the  roof  is  much  more  than  the  foregoing  dimensions, 
in  consequence  of  its  projection. 

HEIGHTH  OF  HIVES FLOOR-BOARDS,  ETC. 

The  hives  may  be  set  from  two  to  three  and  a  half 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  higher  they  are  placed,  the 
more  they  will  be  protected  from  the  rays  of  the  sun 
and  from  storms.  The  stand  upon  which  they  are  to  rest 
should  be  made  of  a  single  board  in  width,  if  possible, 
and  bracketed  on  the  under  side,  to  prevent  warping. 
In  joining  the  floor-boards  of  hives,  there  is  danger  of 
affording  cracks  for  the  use  of  the  moth- worm  to  wind 
up  in. 

The  width  of  hives  is,  say  about  fourteen  inches  on 
the  outside ;  and  the  bees  require,  at  least,  two  inches 
space  in  front  to  alight  on ;  and  the  whole  width  of  the 
stand  would  be,  according  to  this  calculation,  16  inches, 
which  would  be  its  least  possible  diameter.  There  may 
be  separate  floor-boards  for  each  hive  to  rest  on,  if  the 
owner  choose,  on  the  bevel  plan,  that  I  have  described 
at  page  169.  This  would  be  better  than  to  have  the 
hives  rest  on  a  level  floor,  when  rains  beat  in  under 
them ;  because  a  level  floor  is  apt  to  warp  some,  at  best. 
I  dislike  to  multiply  the  fixtures  of  a  bee-stand ;  for  the 
reason,  that  every  addition  furnishes  some  crevice, 
sooner  or  later,  for  insects  to  breed  in.  If  separate  floor- 
boards are  furnished,  let  them  be  two  inches,  at  least, 


214  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

wider  on  every  side,  than  the  hive,  and  clamped  at  the 
ends  to  prevent  warping;  then,  I  recommend  in  the 
place  of  the  level  floor-boards  stationary  in  the  structure; 
as  above  alluded  to,  to  simply  have  a  couple  of  string- 
pieces,  say  tvv^o  inches  wide,  by  one  inch  thick,  placed 
about  a  foot  apart,  and  upon  these  lay  your  bevel  floor- 
board, strewing  salt  where  they  come  in  contact,  plen- 
tifully. If  the  level  floor  be  used,  a  division  between 
each  hive  is  necessary ;  that  is,  a  board  six  inches  broad, 
to  be  set  on  its  edge  vertically,  half  way  between  the 
hives.  This  prevents  the  bees  running  over  to  gossip 
with  their  neighbors,  where  the  only  welcome  they  get, 
is  certain  death,  if  they  enter  their  neighbors'  domicil ! 

The  stand  for  the  hives  should  be  constructed  wholly 
inside  of  the  columns,  resting  against  them.  This 
throws  the  hives  back,  and  more  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
sun.  It  will  do  the  hives  no  harm  to  have  the  rays  of 
the  sun  strike  them  in  the  morning,  until  about  10 
o'clock ;  and  from  3  to  7,  P.  M.  Indeed,  it  is  quite 
necessary,  that  the  sun  should  shine  on,  or  near  the  hives 
in  the  morning. 

HIVES  REPRESENTED  IN  CUT OPEN  BEE-HOUSES 

PREFERABLE,  ETC. 

The  two  hives  represented  in  the  foregoing  cut,  are 
intended  to  represent  my  equilateral  hive,  as  shown 
at  page  181.  These  hives  have  a  beautiful  appearance, 
and  if  surmounted  by  a  wooden  urn,  handsomely  turned, 
the  decoration  would  be  complete.  They  rest  on  pins 
or  legs,  as  before  described,  during  the  spring  and  sum- 


bee-keeper's  manual.  215 

iner,  and  in  the  winter  they  are  let  down,  and  the  open- 
ings in  the  front  and  rear  are  used.  The  general  rules 
for  the  management  of  bees  in  other  hives,  apply  to 
these  with  the  same  force.  One  great  advantage  in  an 
open  apiary  of  this  nature  is,  that  it  affords  the  least 
possible  facilities  for  insect  breeding.  Eveiy  part  is 
exposed,  and  the  broom  or  the  brush  applied  once  a 
week,  thoroughly,  will  root  out  every  vestige  of  moths, 
spiders,  wasps,  &c. 

I  am  aware  that  I  take  new  ground  in  advocating 
open  bee-houses  ;  yet  I  hope  to  be  able  to  convince  my 
readers,  that  the  ordinary  close  houses,  fronting  the 
south,  as  they  generally  do,  are  downright  ruin  to  the 
prosperity  of  bees.  It  is  a  mistaken  idea,  that  bees 
should  be  kept  in  a  warm,  sunny  place.  There  is  but 
one  season  of  the  year,  that  this  principle  will  apply  with 
benefit  to  them ;  and  that  is  in  the  spring,  during  the 
months  of  April  and  May.  From  June  to  October,  they 
want  the  same  temperature  around  their  hives,  that  ex- 
ists in  the  open  fields — no  exposure  to  the  scorching 
rays  of  the  sun,  beside  a  close  fence,  that  keeps  off  the 
current  of  air  that  elsewhere  exists,  nor  to  be  penned  up 
in  a  close  bee-house,  fronting  the  south,  where  the  heat 
is  sufficient  to  broil  a  steak  !  My  remarks  on  the  labors 
of  bees,  to  ventilate  their  hives,  when  thus  exposed,  as 
given  at  page  83,  may  here  be  read  with  profit. 

I  will  simply  ask  the  reader,  if  he  does  not  prefer 
laboring  in  the  shade,  when  the  thermometer  ranges  at 
90'  ?  Well,  so  does  the  bee.  -  Watch  them  on  an  after- 
noon, while  clustering  on  their  tenement,  when  th^  rays 


216  MINERS    AMERICAN 

of  the  sun  are  most  oppressive.  Do  you  see  them  re- 
maining exposed  to  the  sun,  or  do  you  perceive  them 
changing  their  position  to  the  shady  parts  ?  They  re- 
move to  the  shady  sides  of  the  hive,  of  course,  and  why 
is  it  ?  Because  the  rays  of  the  sun  are  too  powerful ; 
and  many  bees  that  cluster  on  the  outside  of  the  hive 
would  be  at  work  within,  but  for  the  insupportable  heat 
there.  From  these  considerations,  we  should  infer,  that 
hives  should  not  be  exposed  to  the  full  force  of  the  sun's 
rays  in  the  summer  ;  nor  be  so  situated,  that  the  air  will 
have  no  circulation  around  them. 

THE  HEAT  OF  THE  SUN  DISADVANTAGEOUS  IN  WINTER. 

Perhaps  of  all  the  innovations  upon  the  established 
rules  of  bee-keepers,  that  I  shall  make  in  this  work,  none 
will  be  more  repugnant  to  their  views  than  the  asser- 
tion, that  bees  should  not  be  exposed  to  the  rays  of  the 
sun  in  the  winter.  Nothing  in  the  whole  management 
of  bees  is  susceptible  of  being  more  clearly  established, 
than  this  fact ;  and  though  I  shall  not  at  this  place  dis- 
cuss the  question  in  all  its  bearings,  yet  it  is  necessary, 
that  I  should  state,  that  close  bee-houses  with  a  southern 
exposure,  should  never  be  constructed.  Where  is  the 
bee-keeper  who  has  not  witnessed  the  loss  of  his  bees, 
when  coming  forth  from  the  hives  when  the  ground  was 
covered  with  snow  ?  Now,  what  is  it  that  allures  them 
from  their  tenements  ?  It  is  the  warm  rays  of  a 
winter's  sun  falling  on  the  hives,  where,  perhaps,  the 
northerly  winds  find  no  entrance.  The  poor  bees  see 
the  light  penetrating  their  domicil,  and  come  down  to 


BEE-KEEPERS    MANUAL.  217 

snufF  the  balmy  breeze.  They  look  out,  and  a  warm  sun 
greets  them,  saying,  as  it  were,  "come  forth  and  meet 
me  ;  no  chill  pervades  the  air.  All  is  bright  and  glit- 
tering; and  old  boreas  is  chained  to  northern  icy  shores." 
They  come  forth.  All  is  calm  and  serene  around  their 
tenement.  They  rise  on  the  wing,  and  sweep  the  fields 
while  yet  warm  from  their  abode,  and  suddenly  the  cold 
winds  that  they  imagined  were  hushed,  come  whistling 
past.  They  feel  a  chill  that  benumbs  them,  and  they 
endeavor  to  return.  The  glittering  snow  blinds  their 
vision,  and  they  fall  to  rise  no  more.  How  great  the 
destruction  of  life  is,  in  an  apiary  thus  situated,  from  the 
above  cause,  every  person  is  well  aware,  who  has  kept 
bees  in  a  northern  climate.  If  there  be  instances  in 
which  large  numbers  of  bees  have  perished  in  the  above 
manner,  and  yet  it  has  made  no  apparent  difference  in 
the  prosperity  of  the  apiary  the  following  season,  it  was 
because  the  hives  were  well  tenanted,  and  could,  with- 
out destruction,  spare  a  portion  of  their  numbers ;  yet 
every  bee  that  thus  perishes,  is  a  loss.  A  hive  contain- 
ing two  thousand  bees,  that  loses  two  hundred  in  the 
above  ^'v1^y,  decreases  in  value  10  per  cent.,  and  in  the 
same  ratio  for  the  loss  of  any  number  or  proportion  of 
the  family. 

I  will  now  introduce  the  reader  to  a  bee-house  that 
may  be  enclosed  when  necessary,  and  avoid  all  the  fatali- 
ties of  close  houses,  as  they  are  usually  constructed. 


10 


218 


MINERS    AMERICAN 


V  k 


The  above  cut  represents  a  house  twelve  feet  long,  six 
feet  high,  and  five  feet  vv^ide.  The  ends  and  back  are 
enclosed,  except  a  space  one  foot  wide,  directly  oppo- 
site the  lower  section  of  the  hives.  This  space  is  pro- 
vided with  a  shutter,  hung  on  hinges,  and  during  the 
months  of  March,  April  and  May,  it  should  be  closed. 
The  remainder  of  the  year,  it  should  be  open,  unless  in 
certain  circumstances  of  very  heavy  winds  existing, 
when  it  would  be  proper  to  close  it  again  Tor  brief, 
periods.  The  shutter  here  alluded  to,  is  made  from  any 
board  measuring  12  feet  long  by  one  foot  wide,  and 
bracketed  to  prevent  warping.  During  the  heat  of  sum- 
mer, a  breeze  will  constantly  be  playing  around  the 
hives,  when  arranged  on  this  plan,  giving  the  bees  health 
and  activity ;  and  during  the  winter,  they  will  stay  at 
home,  where  they  belong. 

It  may  be  perceived  in  the  preceding  cut,  that  a  por- 


bee-keeper's  manual.  219 

tion  of  the  structure  is  closed  below  the  roof  in  front. 
This  portion  of  the  front  thus  covered,  is  about  two  feet 
wide.  It  is  not  intended  to  be  permanently  fast,  but 
one  foot  of  it,  at  least,  in  width,  should  swing  on  hinges 
and  be  susceptible  of  being  raised  and  lowered  at  plea- 
sure. In  the  spring  of  the  year,  it  may  be  raised,  and 
the  sun  let  in,  as  the  heat  of  this  orb,  at  that  period,  is 
beneficial  in  aiding  the  bees  to  raise  the  temperature  of 
the  interior  of  the  hives  sufficiently  to  develop  the  brood. 

HIVES  TO  BE  BROUGHT  WITHIN  THE  RAYS  OF  THE  SUN 
AT  CERTAIN  SEASONS,  ETC. 

A  very  good  way  to  bring  the  hives  within  the  rays 
of  the  sun  during  the  sprirjg  months  is,  to  so  construct 
the  floor-board,  as  to  admit  of  its  being  brought  forward 
or  moved  back  at  pleasure.  For  instance,  in  March, 
April,  and  May,  bring  it  forward  parallel  with  the  front 
of  the  house,  where  the  sun  will  shine  with  full  force 
upon  the  hives.  When  swarming  is  over  and  the  heat 
becomes  oppressive,  let  it  be  moved  back,  so  far  as  to 
be  beyond  the  reach  of  the  rays  of  the  sun ;  and  in  the 
winter,  the  farther  back  it  is  moved  the  better,  for  the 
reason,  that  no  inducement  should  then  be  afforded  to 
cause  the  bees  to  leave  their  homes,  and  at  this  season  the 
front  should  be  closed  partially ;  that  is,  the  board  that 
hangs  on  hinges  should  be  let  down.  The  rear  being 
open  in  winter,  causes  a  cool  current  of  air  to  pass 
around  the  hives,  and  if  at  any  time  the  bees  leave  their 
domicils,  they  do  it  with  their  eyes  open,  or  in  other 
words,  they  are  not  deceived  in  regard  to  the  actual 


220  MINERS    AMERICAN 

temperature  without,  unless  it  be,  that  they  find  it  much 
warmer  than  they  anticipated,  from  which  no  evil  can 
arise. 

The  removal  of  the  floor-boards  from  front  to  rear, 
and  vice  versa,  will  not  involve  the  necessity  of  disturb- 
ing the  hives.  It  can  be  effected  by  shoving  along  the 
whole  together. 

DIVISION-BOARDS  NECESSARY  BETWEEN  HIVES,  ETC. 

It  will  be  perceived,  that  in  the  cut  a  division  ap- 
pears between  each  hive.  This  is  necessary,  as  before 
spoken  of.  A  board  a  few  inches  wide,  placed  on  it.*? 
edge,  is  all  that  is  requisite. 

They  who  prefer  it,  may  have  their  hives  set  on  stools 
in  structures  of  the  foregoing  character;  and  in  this 
way,  have  better  access  to  them,  and  facility  in  passing 
around  them,  &c.  I  am  inclined  to  think,  that  setting 
them  on  stools  would  be  the  better  way. 

The  suspended  hives,  before  illustrated,  may  be  en- 
closed in  a  house  of  this  description.  There  is  no  hin- 
drance in  the  least.  Every  apiarian  must  consult  his 
own  convenience  and  taste  in  many  things,  and  not  fol- 
low any  written  rules ;  or  rather,  he  will  have  to  do  so, 
in  the  absence  of  instructions,  since  to  state  every  thing 
pertaining  to  this  subject,  is  out  of  the  question. 

COST  OF  BUILDING. 

A  bee-house  on  the  foregoing  plan,  can  be  built  for 
'"$30,  and  in  good  style,  too.  A  handsome  cornice  around 
the  roof,  to  suit  the  size  of  the  structure,  should  be  in- 


bee-keeper's  manual.  221 

eluded  in  that  sum.  The  posts  should  be  about  4  by  4 
inches,  with  the  corners  taken  oft'  an  inch,  except  six  or 
eight  inches  of  the  tops  and  bottoms.  If  the  posts  should 
be  boxed  in,  they  would  appear  much  better ;  but  for  an 
economical  house,  it  is  not  at  all  necessary. 

FLOOR  NOT  NECESSARY. 

A  floor  may,  or  may  not  be  laid.  If  it  is  to  give 
shelter  to  all  manner  of  insects  below,  it  had  better  be 
dispensed  with ;  but  if  made  perfectly  tight,  and  no  pas- 
sage beneath  be  afforded,  it  will  be  an  improvement. 
A  stone  or  brick  floor  is  far  best,  which  would  afibrd  no 
protection  to  insects. 

BRICK  BEE-HOUSES. 

€)f  all  the  bee-houses  that  have  ever  been  used,  none 
are  better  adapted  for  wintering  bees,  than  those  con- 
structed of  bricks.  The  great  object  is,  to  keep  the 
bees  during  the  winter  season,  in  such  a  manner,  that 
they  will  feel  the  sudden  changes  of  weather  as  little  as 
possible.  A  brick  house  on  the  plan  of  the  foregoing 
wooden  one,  would  be  very  convenient.  An  open  space 
one  foot  wide  on  the  back,  would  be  desirable,  and  very 
important,  to  let  a  current  of  air  pass  around  the  hives 
in  the  summer  season,  at  least,  if  not  in  the  winter. 
The  front  may  be  walled  up  even  with  the  floor-board 
of  the  hives ;  and  then,  a  space  left  open  eighteen  inches 
wide ;  when  the  brick- work  may  commence  again,  sup- 
ported by  a  cross-timber.  A  door- way  should  be  left  in 
front,  to  enter  the  building.     The  openings  in  front  and 


222  miner's    AMERICAN 

rear,  should  be  provided  with  shutters,  that  fit  very 
closely ;  the  one  in  front  in  particular.  During  the 
summer,  the  front  is  left  open,  and  the  hives  are  set 
back  far  enough,  to  be  out  of  the  sun  the  most  of  the 
day.  In  cold  weather,  the  front  is  shut  as  tight  as  pos- 
sible, door  and  all ;  and  if  a  current  of  air  can  be  made 
to  circulate  within,  without  the  rear  shutter  being  par- 
tially open,  that  may  also  be  closed.  The  bees  will  then 
be  in  darkness,  but  it  is  so  much  the  belter  for  them ; 
provided,  that  any  means  can  be  adopted  to  ventilate 
the  apiary.  A  small  air-hole  at  the  bottom,  at  each  end 
of  the  house,  with  an  escape  at  the  top  of  the  roof,  some 
six  inches  square,  boxed  in,  and  perforated  with  holes, 
would  keep  the  atmosphere  within  perfectly  pure. 

On  this  plan,  the  bees  will  not  desire  to  leave  their 
hives,  and  the  usual  casualties  of  the  winter  season^re 
entirely  avoided ;  provided  the  bees  have  sufficient  honey 
to  carry  them  through  the  season.  They  will  not  con- 
sume over  one  half  as  much  honey  in  this  way,  as  they 
would,  if  exposed  to  the  full  force  of  the  sun  during  the 
winter. 

I  would  not  wish  the  reader  to  infer,  that  this  last 
method  of  wintering  bees,  is  the  only  way  that  is  recom- 
mendable.  The  preceding  plan  of  a  wooden  house  is 
similar  to  it,  and  perhaps  some  may  think,  just  as  good, 
or  even  preferable.  The  ornamental  bee-house  first 
given,  is  not,  with  all  its  openness,  lacking  qualities  to 
enable  the  apiarian  to  winter  his  bees  with  perfect  safety. 
A  few  boards  so  placed  in  front,  as  to  exclude  the  sun, 
say  a  couple  of  posts  set  down   temporarily,  some  four 


bee-keeper's  manual.  2^3 

feet  from  the  hives,  and  then  boarded  up  six  feet  or 
more,  v/ould  be  all  that  would  be  necessary ;  then  close 
the  slides  when  the  bees  show  any  disposition  to  come 
out,  if  the  ground  be  covered  with  snow,  if  not,  let  them 
come  out  as  much  as  they  please. 

In  case  of  using  the  brick  tenement,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  open  the  front  occasionally,  when  the  weather 
is  mild  and  no  snow  exists,  to  allow  the  bees  to  clear 
their  hives  of  dead  bees,  and  also  to  their  void  foeces.  It 
is  very  bad  policy  to  keep  bees  confined  a  whole  winter, 
or  even  a  month,  without  giving  them  an  airing. 

The  bee-houses  here  introduced,  are  original;  or 
rather  the  first  is  entirely  original  in  design,  and  the 
second  engraving,  with  the  plan  of  a  brick  structure,  are 
great  improvements  of  apologies  for  bee-houses  hereto- 
fore existing.  No  apiarian  has  ever  taken  the  same 
ground  that  I  pursue,  in  regard  to  winter  management 
of  bees,  and  none  have,  as  I  believe,  ever  met  with  so 
successful  results.  I  make  mention  of  these  points,  not 
in  an  egotistical  spirit,  but  rather  to  show  that  my  plans 
are  not  re-vamped  from  any  of  the  exploded  theories  of 
apiarians  that  have  already  existed,  and  been  weighed 
ill  the  balance  and  found  wanting. 

Had  I  room  to  spare,  I  would  illustrate  one  or  two 
more  bee-houses",  that  might  be  constructed,  partly  orna- 
mental, and  partly  otherwise ;  but  there  are  none  that 
excel  those  already  given.  Every  apiarian  can  suggest 
his  own  plans,  when  the  fundamental  requisites  are  laid 
down,  as  I  think  I  .have  done.     The  dimensions  that  I 


224  miner's    AMERICAN 

have  given  in  the  preceding  cuts,  need  not  be  followed ; 
but  merely  the  principles  there  elucidated. 


CHAPTER    XV. 


BEE-STANDS,  ETC. 

It  may  be  necessary  for  me  to  state  my  views  upon 
the  relative  merits  of  different  kinds  of  stands,  upon 
which  to  rest  hives. 

There  is  the  suspending  stand ; — the  shelf,  or  horizon- 
tal floor-board ;  and  the  stool-stand. 

The  suspended  stand  is  a  very  good  one,  and  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  an  inclination  to  the  alighting-board 
is  preferable  to  any  other ;  but  it  may  be  asked,  how  far 
the  prosperity  of  the  bees  is  affected  by  giving  an  incli- 
nation to  the  alighting-board  ? 

It  is  not  absolutely  necessary  to  have  such  an  inclina- 
tion, yet  it  is  an  advantage  in  keeping  the  floor  of  the 
hive  dry,  and  giving  any  water  that  may  beat  in  facility 
to  run  off".  It  also  aids  the  bees  as  before  observed,  in 
keeping  their  tenement  free  from  worms,  dead  bees,  &c. 

The  horizontal  shelf  has  no  particular  fault.  If  it  can 
be  kept  level,  by  the  use  of  cleats,  to  prevent  warping,  it 


BBE-KEEPERS  MANUAL.  225 

will  do  very  well.  The  principal  objection  that  can  be 
brought  against  this  kind  of  floor-board,  is  the  liability 
of  the  bees  to  communicate  with  each  other,  when  they 
cluster  out  in  great  numbers.  When  hives  are  set  a 
foot  or  eighteen  inches  apart,  which  is  the  usual  dis- 
tance, the  bees,  during  very  warm  weather,  will  vacate 
their  hives,  and  spread  oxit  to  the  right  and  left,  so  as  to 
meet  the  members  of  the  adjoining  families,  and  they 
frequently  get  so  mixed,  that  they  enter  the  wrong  hive 
and  perish.  A  bee  seems  to  lose  all  knowledge  of  the 
position  of  its  own  home,  except  when  on  the  wing.  If 
they  happen  to  cross  the  dividing  line,  between  their 
own  and  a  neighboring  hive,  they  lose  all  recollection 
of  having  thus  passed  the  boundary,  and  the  nearest 
hive  receives  them ;  but  their  mistake  is  found  out  in- 
stantly, yet  it  is  often  too  late  to  retreat.  It  is  curious 
to  perceive  how  the  truant  bees  sufier  themselves  to  be 
encircled  and  held  prisoners.  A  half  dozen  bees  will 
surround  a  single  one,  showing  no  deadly  hostility,  un- 
less the  stranger  attempt  to  fly  away,  when  it  is  dis- 
patched forthwith.  On  an  occasion  of  witnessing  an 
occurrence  of  this  nature,  I  stood  watching  the  move- 
ments of  a  couple  of  workers,  that  held  another  worker 
prisoner.  They  offered  no  violence  until  the  stranger 
attempted  to  rise  on  the  wing,  when  it  was  suddenly 
seized  by  one  of  its  captors,  and  stung  between  the  rings 
of  the  abdomen.  The  next  moment  it  lay  quivering  in 
death. 

On   refering  to  page  218,  the   reader   wiU   perceive 
small  divisions  between  the  hives  in  the  cut.     These 
10* 


226  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

strips  effectually  prevent  bees  from  passing  from  one 
hive  to  another,  as  here  represented.  They  never  run 
up  a  vertical  barrier,  to  cross  over  to  adjoining  hives, 
even  if  it  be  but  two  inches  high.  This  being  the  case, 
a  great  objection  is  overcome  to  horizontal  shelf-stands. 

The  stool-stand,  as  seen  at  page  153,  is  about  as  good 
as  anything  that  can  be  used.  It  affords  as  few  facili- 
ties for  the  breeding  of  insects  as  any  other,  and  it  has 
some  features  that  render  it  preferable  to  either  sus- 
pended or  shelf-stands.  It  is  easily  removed,  when 
necessary,  and  with  an  inclination  given  to  each  side, 
there  can  be  no  reasonable  objection  to  its  use.  If  these 
stools  can  be  made  in  one  board,  they  would  be  much 
better;  as  the  groove  where  the  joint  is  made,  when  in 
two  pieces,  will  open,  in  time,  so  far  as  to  admit  the 
moth-worm  to  wind  up  therein.  When  cracks  do  ex- 
ist, they  should  be  filled  with  putty  in  the  spring. 

The  size  of  stools  should  be  at  least  two  inches  larger 
on  each  side,  than  the  dimension  of  the  hive.  The 
clamps,  to  prevent  warping,  should  not  be  omitted.  The 
height  may  be  from  one  to  two  feet.  The  height  of 
hives  from  the  ground  is  a  matter  of  some  importance. 
I  have  generally  recommended  three  feet  for  suspended 
hives,  and  it  would  be  better,  perhaps,  to  have  all  hives 
as  high  as  that,  but  it  is  not  always  convenient.  All 
we  want  is,  to  get  the  hives  out  of  the  reach  of  the  damp 
exhalations  that  arise  from  the  earth  during  warm 
weather.  If  the  hives  are  placed  near  the  earth,  a  thick 
coat  of  gravel  around  them  would  be  beneficial,  in  pre- 
venting exhalations  of  dampness.     In  case  of  using  the 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  227 

shelf-stand,  the  hives  can  be  raised  three  feet  without 
inconvenience. 

I  do  not  recommend  the  practice  of  having  a  double 
tier  of  hives,  one  above  the  other,  at  all.  It  is  bad  man- 
agement. The  apiarian  has  not  the  facility  to  attend  to 
them,  that  he  has  when  but  one  tier  exists ;  and  besides 
that,  it  brings  the  bees  too  close. 

In  regard  to  the  distance  that  hives  should  be  set 
apart,  I  would  say,  that  they  cannot  be  placed  too 
far,  unless  it  be  beyond  the  bee-keeper's  premises ;  but 
it  is  necessary  to  set  them  near  to  each  other,  in  order 
to  afford  the  bees  protection  from  the  sun,  &c.  I  think 
that  a  single  row  or  tier  of  hives  will  not  suffer  injurv 
by  being  placed  where  the  space  between  each  hive  is 
about  one  foot ;  provided,  that  the  divisions  are  put  up, 
before  alluded  to.  Two  feet  would  be  better,  and  four 
feet  better  still ;  but  it  is  not  always  convenient  to  have 
hives  that  distance  from  each  other. 

The  stool-stand  has  one  advantage  on  this  point.  It 
can  be  used  in  an  out-door  apiary,  and  the  hives  sta- 
tioned a  rod  apart,  if  desirable.  All  that  is  wanting,  in 
this  case,  is  a  flat  portable  roof  for  each  stool ;  say  three 
boards  one  foot  wide,  and  three  feet  long,  secured  to- 
gether with  brackets  or  cleats.  Set  one  of  these  pro- 
tectors on  each  hive,  drawn  a  little  forward  of  the  cen- 

0 

tre,  to  produce  the  more  shade.  If  they  will  not  keep 
in  their  position,  place  a  stone  on  each;  but  if  you 
would  be  a  little  more  tasty,  you  can  get  iron  or  lead 
weights,  if  any  at  all  are  necessary ;  which  I  think  quite 
doubtful. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


THE  APIARY. 

■  The  position  of  the  apiary  is  a  matter  of  importance. 
In  most  cases,  it  is  seen  to  front  tiie  south,  according  to 
the  usual  practice  of  the  present  day ;  and  especially. 
when  enclosed,  somewhat  on  the  plan  of  bee-houses 
illustrated  at  page  218.  This  position  is  considered 
necessary  by  bee-keepers  generally,  in  order  to  afford 
the  bees  all  the  warmth,  both  in  summer  and  winter, 
that  it  is  possible  to  give,  and  which  I  consider  so  ruin- 
ous to  their  prosperity. 

SOUTH-EAST  THE  BEST  POINT  TO  FRONT. 

It  will  not,  in  all  cases,  be  found  convenient  to  have 
the  apiary  front  any  point  of  the  compass ;  in  conse- 
quence of  the  situation  of  the  ground  where  it  is  to  be 
erected,  since  it  is  often  necessary  to  build  parallel  to 
some  fence  already  constructed ;  but  the  best  possible 
way  it  can  point  is  south-east.  Directly  to  the  south 
or  to  the  east,  is  not  particularly  objectionable,  when 
the  back  of  the  building  has  an  opening  to  admit  a  cur- 
rent of  air  among  the  hives,  as  I  biave  directed ;  but 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  229 

when  it  is  convenient,  I  recommend  a  preference  to  be 
given  to  the  aforesaid  direction. 

MORNING  SUN  NECESSARY. 

Every  husbandman  knows  full  well  how  much  more 
labor  his  hired  men  can  perform,  when  they  get  to  work 
at  the  rising  of  the  sun,  than  when  they  lie  in  bed  until 
that  luminary  peers  in  at  the  windows  of  their  bed-vooms 
at  an  angle  of  20<=>  or  30°.  To  the  above  may  be  likened 
the  sallying  forth  of  the  honey-bee.  It  is  not  often  that 
bees  sally  forth  to  the  fields  in  the  morning,  until  the  rays 
of  the  sun  strike  their  hives.  For  example,  two  hives  may 
be  placed  in  the  months  of  June,  July  and  August,  in 
different  situations ;  the  one  where  the  sun  cannot  shine 
upon  it,  until  7  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  the  other,  where  his 
rays  will  fall  upon  it,  at  half-past  5.  Now  mark  the 
result.  The  bees  in  the  hive  where  the  warmth  of  the 
sun  reaches  them  at  half-past  5,  will  be  seen  leaving 
their  hives  at  that  hour,  while  those  of  the  other  hive, 
remain  within  until  7  o'clock,  one  hour  and  a  half  later. 
Thus  it  may  be  seen,  that  it  is  important  to  so  place  our 
hives,  that  they  will  receive  the  morning  sun.  If  the 
bee-house  front  the  south,  it  would  be  well  to  have  a 
movable  shutter  at  the  east  end,  to  be  raised  during  the 
summer ;  say  two  feet  space  opposite  the  end  hive,  to  be 
thus  open,  and  closed  at  pleasure. 

OFFENSIVE  S3IELLS  DETRIMENTAL. 

It  is  advisable  to  place  the  apiary  out  of  the  reach  of 


230  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

nauseous  and  offensive  smells ;  and  not  immediately  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  barn-yard,  where  flies  congregate.  A 
yard-house  being  near,  will  not,  in  ordinary  cases,  be 
injurious,  unless  it  be  offensive,  which  should  never  be 
the  case,  on  account  of  the  apiarian's  family.  A  barrel 
of  lime  or  plaster  thrown  into  the  sink,  when  offensive, 
will  thoroughly  purify  it. 

THE  SHADE  OF  LARGE  TREES  NOT  BENEFICIAL,  ETC. 

It  is  not  advisable  to  place  an  apiary  under  trees  of 
magnitude ;  since  the  drippings  therefrom,  during  wet 
weather,  continue  long  after  the  sun  appears,  and  thus 
retard  the  labors  of  the  bees.  Hives  that  are  set  in  an 
out-door  apiary,  without  any  protection,  are  much  more 
affected  by  the  drippings  of  trees  than  those  placed  in  a 
bee-house.  It  is  a  custom  with  many  people,  to  thus 
place  their  hives  in  the  shade,  in  order  to  screen  them 
from  the  heat  of  the  sun  during;  the  summer:  but  it  is 
bad  management.  A  cover,  three  or  four  feet  square, 
that  may  be  nnade  at  a  cost  of  one  shilling,  is  much  bet- 
ter than  the  protection  of  trees,  and  such  cover  may  be 
removed  in  April  and  May,  and  the  sun  left  to  shine 
upon  the  hives  with  his  full  force,  to  aid  in  developing 
the  brood.  In  case  of  removing  the  cover  thus  de- 
scribed, it  would  be  well  to  use  a  small  cover  the  size  of 
the  top  of  the  hive,  merely  to  prevent  any  warping  or 
cracking  of  the  top.  I  never  expose  the  tops  of  my  hives 
to  the  sun,  as  it  is  almost  impossible  to  prevent  such  a 
result,  sooner  or  later,  to  some  extent. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  231 

danger  of  hives  blowing  over. 

In  out-door  apiaries,  there  is  some  danger  of  hives 
being  blown  over,  during  the  prevalence  of  very  high 
winds,  unless  secured  in  some  manner.  If  the  hives  are 
set  against  a  close  fence,  there  is  no  danger  from  winds, 
unless  it  be  a  hurricane ;  yet  I  do  not  approve  of  placing 
them  against  fences  or  buildings  at  all,  for  reasons  be- 
fore given,  in  regard  to  allowing  the  air  to  circulate 
freely  around  them,  and  keeping  them  free  from  insects. 
It  is  always  best,  in  cases  of  out-door  apiaries,  to  fully 
secure  the  hives  in  some  way,  against  any  possible  con- 
tingency. A  thunder-storm  in  summer  often  brings 
winds  that  level  trees,  fences,  and  even  houses  with  the 
ground.  On  that  account,  the  lower  the  hives  are 
placed  the  better ;  but  nearer  than  one  foot  to  the  ground 
will  not  answer  at  all,  and  the  higher  the  better,  so  far 
as  the  bees  are  concerned ;  but  no  height  will  prevent 
the  moth-miller  from  entering.  What  fastening  or  se- 
curity for  hives  is  best  to  prevent  them  from  being 
blown  over,  I  hardly  know,  but  a  stake  driven  firmly 
into  the  ground,  against  the  back  of  each,  and  a  leather 
strap  or  cord  running  around  the  lower  section,  and 
secured  to  the  stake  would  be  effectual.  The  super,  if 
the  hive  be  on  the  plan  of  that  shown  at  page  153,  will 
not  be  blown  off,  if  doweled  in;  and  even  if  it  were  not 
doweled,  it  would  not  blow  off,  as  the  bees  always  ce- 
ment down  supers  with  propolis,  so  as  to  require  a  con- 
siderable force  to  separate  them  from  the  main  hives. 

The  cheapest  way  of  holding  down  hives,  is  to  place 


232  MINER  3    AMERICAN 

a  large  stone  upon  each ;  so  let  no  bee-keeper  suffer  his 
hives  to  be  blown  over  for  the  want  of  means  to  secure 
them. 

SURROUNDING  PROTECTION  NECESSARY. 

When  bees  arrive  within  a  few  feet  of  their  hives,  it 
is  very  important  that  the  force  of  the  winds  should  be 
checked  in  some  manner,  as  the  greatest  difficulty  a  bee 
encounters  when  on  the  wing,  is  to  alight  safely  at  her 
own  door.  Like  a  ship  at  sea  in  a  gale,  all  goes  on 
merrily  so  long  as  she  has  sea  room-;  but  let  her  ap- 
proach land,  and  then  comes  the  real  danger.  Just  so 
it  is  with  the  little  bee,  when  the  high  winds  sweep  over 
the  hills  and  valleys.  She  beats  up  against  the  breeze 
fearing  nothing  while  she  has  space  to  dart  over  the 
forest ;  but  when  she  comes  to  her  door — when  she 
slackens  her  speed,  she  is  al  the  mercy  of  every  fitful 
gust  that  plays  around  the  hives  ;  and  often  when  just 
reaching  her  own  domicil,  as  she  hovers  slowly  before 
the  entrance,  loaded  with  treasures  from  nature's  store- 
house, she  is  forced  to  the  ground,  or  perchance  against 
some  neighboring  hive.  The  vision  of  the  bee  is  obscured 
when  she  approaches  within  a  few  feet  of  her  hive,  and 
her  motion  is  necessarily  quite  slow  on  such  occasions, 
and  if  she  be  driven  out  of  her  course  to  the  least  extent, 
she  has  to  rise  again  on  the  wing,  and  describe  a  circle 
in  her  flight,  some  ten  or  twenty  feet  above  the  apiary, 
before  she  can  venture  to  return  again.  Even  should 
she  be  driven  but  a  single  foot  from  the  point  she  aimed 
at  in  alighting,  she  would  rise  again,  and  make  a  second 


BEE-KEEPER  rf    MANUAL.  233 

attempt  in  finding  her  home.  Bees  seem  to  know  no- 
thing at  all  of  the  position  of  their  hive,  unless  when  de- 
scending on  a  return  from  the  fields,  or  in  cases  when 
their  flight  is  merely  sporting  immediately  around  it. 

For  the  purpose  of  affording  a  check  to  the  force  of 
the  winds  in  out-door  apiaries,  immediately  around  the 
hives,  in  unsheltered  situations,  I  would  recommend  a 
close  fence  to  be  placed  some  short  distance  fi*om  them, 
on  the  north  and  west  sides.  If  any  fence  be  placed  on 
the  east  side,  it  should  not  obstruct  the  rays  of  the  sun 
to  the  most  easterly  hives.  It  is  advisable  to  have  an 
open  length  one  foot  wide  opposite  the  hives,  that  may 
be  opened  and  closed  at  pleasure.  In  the  spring  the 
whole  fence  may  be  closed,  and  as  the  heat  of  summer 
approaches,  the  doors  or  shutters  may  be  thrown  open. 
When  a  quiet  nook  already  exists,  where  the  force  of 
the  wind  is  partially  broken,  the  hives  may  be  placed 
there  without  further  trouble.  When  the  hives  are 
placed  in  a  bee-house,  no  protection  from  winds  is  re- 
quired, except  to  keep  the  back  closed  when  the  winds 
are  very  high,  and  it  is  evident  that  it  would  be  bene- 
ficial to  do  so.  In  case  of  having  an  open  house,  like 
that  described  at  page  210,  some  little  screen  afforded 
as  protection  against  the  winds,  such  as  adjoining  high 
shrubbery,  or  some  fence  within  ten  or  fifteen  feet,  on 
the  north  or  west  side,  would  be  sufficient ;  yet  without 
any  protection  at  all,  in  any  case,  the  bees  will  thrive 
and  do  well ;  but  it  is  better  to  thus  afford  a  little  pro- 
tection from  the  force  of  the  winds  when  convenient 
to  do  so. 


234  miner's   , AMERICAN 

KIVEES  AND  LAKES  DETRIMENTAL. 

If  the  apiarian  reside  on  the  banks  of  a  large  river, 
lake,  or  very  near  the  ocean,  he  should  place  his  apiary 
as  far  from  the  water  as  possible ;  as  the  bees  are  liable 
to  be  forced  down  and  drowned  when  returning  heavily 
laden.  Such  results  occur  when  the  bees  cross  the 
\\'flter.  If  the  bee-pasturage  be  abundant  back  of  such 
river  or  lake,  they  will  seldom  venture  across,  where  the 
distance  is  half  a  mile  and  over  ;  yet  there  are  instances 
where  bees  have  been  known  to  pass  several  miles  over 
water  to  obtain  honey.  I  should  not  sutler  a  close 
proximity  to  the  water,  in  any  case,  to  deter  me  from 
keeping  bees ;  yet  what  I  would  inculcate  most  deeply 
is,  that  an  apiary  immediately  on  the  banks  of  a  river, 
or  of  any  other  body  of  water,  where  but  a  few  feet 
intervene  between  the  hives  and  the  water,  is  objec- 
tionable. Two  hundred  feet  from  the  bank  is  a  safe 
distance. 

HOW  SITUATED  IN  REGARD  TO  THE  DWELLING. 

It  is  an  important  consideration  to  so  place  the  apiary, 
that  during  the  swarming  season,  the  swarms  will  be 
readily  observed,  as  the  bees  will  not  always  await  their 
owner's  motion  to  h1ve  them.  If  it  be  convenient  to 
place  it  where  the  servants  about  the  kitchen,  in  their 
running  in  and  out,  would  be  likely  to  observe  the  bees 
in  such  instances,  it  would  be  the  best  position,  perhaps. 
When  bees  swarm,  the  noise  created  by  them  may  be 
heard  many  rods,  where  but  few  hives  exist ;  but  when 


bee-keeper's  manual.  235 

a  dozen  or  more  strong  famijies  are  in  a  single  apiary, 
the  usual  hu7n  drowns  the  extra  noise  of  swarming. 
Any  gentleman  keeping  this  insect,  should  for  the  space 
of  about  three  weeks,  charge  his  gardener  to  be  on  the 
look  out.  The  season  when  swarms  are  to  be  most  ex 
pected,  is  from  the  20th  of  May  to  the  10th  of  June,  and 
during  this  period,  if  the  apiary  be  not  near  the  kitchen 
door  where  the  servants  will  notice  swarms,  a  little  at- 
tention on  the  part  of  the  gardener  is  quite  sufficient. 

NO  WALLS  OR    BUILDINGS  TO  IMPEDE  THE    FLIGHT  OF  BEES. 

When  bees  sally  out  to  the  fields,  they  depart  at  an 
angle  of  about  lorty  degrees  with  the  plane  of  the 
horizen ;  and  no  wall,  or  other  obstruction,  should  im- 
pede their  free  passage  at  such  an  angle.  It  matters  not 
what  obstruction  may  be  in  the  rear  of  the  hives,  pro- 
vided, that  no  barrier  exist  in  front. 

VALLEYS  MOST  SUITABLE  FOR  APIARIES.      • 

If  one  were  to  have  his  choice  of  just  such  a  location 
as  he  might  elect,  he  should  select  a  broad  valley,  with 
gently-sloping  sides,  extending  a  mile  or  more.  The 
sides  of  such  valley  should  be  composed  of  rich  mead- 
ows and  pasture  lands ;  and  as  little  as  may  be  under  the 
plow.  Here  and  there  should  a  tract  of  woodland  inter- 
vene, and  ample  orchards  dot  the  landscape ;  and  above 
all,  the  white  clover  should  be  seen  spreading  its  snow- 
while  mantle  in  wild  exuberance  and  profusion,  beneath 
the  feet  of  the  herds  that  rove  over  the  fertile  fields, 
this  would  be  a  paradise  for  bees;  yet  such  a  paradise 


236  miner's    AMERICAN 

exists  in  thousands  and  thousands  of  places,  where  bar- 
rels of  honey  might  be  gathered,  for  the  pounds  that  are 
now  produced. 

In  valleys,  bees  have  less  high  winds  to  encounter ; 
and  when  loaded  and  returning  home,  it  is  easier  for 
them  to  descend  than  to  ascend.  This  requires  no 
proof.  Let  the  reader,  when  fatigued,  have  a  mile  to 
walk,  would  you  prefer  to  have  it  up  hill  or  down  ? 

WEEDS  AROUND  HIVES  TO  BE  EXTIRPATED. 

It  is  customary  with  many  bee-keepers  to  place  their 
hives  where  the  grass  grows  in  the  greatest  profusion. 
This  is  not  good  policy ;  yet,  perhaps,  it  is  full  as  well, 
to  place  hives  over  a  green  sward,  where  the  grass  can 
be  cut  at  intervals,  as  to  place  them  where  the  sod  has 
been  turned  over,  and  then  allow  a  profusion  of  weeds 
to  spring  up  around  them.  Both  cases  are  bad  man- 
agement for  the  thorough  apiarian.  I  now  allude  to 
out-door  apiaries  only,  of  course. 

The  better  way  is,  to  first  throw  aside  the  top  soil, 
where  an  out-door  apiaiy  is  to  be  situated,  then  throw 
out  a  foot  or  two  in  depth  of  the  yellow  barren  sub-soil. 
In  the  pit  thus  excavated,  place  the  top  soil  first  re- 
moved, and  let  the  barren  sub-soil  remain  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground.  Over  this  spread  a  few  inches  of 
gravel,  and  you  will  soon  have  a  hard  foundation  for 
your  hives,  where  but  few,  if  any,  weeds  will  spring  up, 
and  where  every  unfortunate  bee  that  falls  to  the  ground 
exhausted  with  fatigue,  as  does  often  happen,  may  rest 


bee-keeper's  manual.  237 

her  weary  limbs  in  ease  and  safety,  and  finally  rise  on 
the  wing,  and  regain  her  tenement. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known,  even  among  bee- 
keepers, that  when  a  bee  falls  through  fatigue,  that  it  is 
difficult  for  her  to  rise  from  a  level  surface.  Some  little 
headway  must  be  secured :  and  for  this  purpose,  a  nar- 
row strip  of  board  laid  on  the  ground,  in  front  of  the 
hives,  will  afford  the  requisite  facility.  The  bees  will 
ascend  the  sides  of  such  piece  of  board,  and  from  thence 
take  a  flight,  that  could  not  possibly  be  effected  from  a 
level  surface. 

Besides  the  above  considerations,  we  lose  a  large 
number  out  of  every  family  of  bees,  where  weeds  and 
grass  grow  spontaneously  around  the  hives,  that  would 
not  be  lost  in  other  circumstances.  How  many  spiders 
lay  in  ambush  among  the  weeds  and  grass,  to  weave 
their  silken  webs  around  every  fallen  bee,  no  one  can 
tell,  who  has  not  carefully  investigated  this  subject.  A 
few  bees  ensnared  every  day  is  of  no  account,  perhaps 
the  careless  apiarian  would  say ;  but  let  us  see  what 
figures  say,  that  cannot  lie.  Suppose  ten  bees  are  thus 
lost  daily  on  an  average,  from  the  1st  of  May  to  the  1st 
of  November.  We  have  184  days,  and  the  number  of 
bees  lost,  that  might,  with  good  management,  have  been 
saved,  is  1840 !  This  number  would  make  a  very  re- 
spectable swarm.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  people  do  not 
succeed,  in  many  cases,  in  the  culture  of  bees,  when 
they  thus  let  them  take  care  of  themselves  ? 


238  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

APIARIES  IN  THE  ROOMS  OF  DWELLINGS. 

It  is  a  practice  with  some  people,  to  have  their  hives 
placed  in  an  upper  room  of  their  dweUing,  with  tubes  or 
other  channels  for  the  bees  to  obtain  egress  and  ingress. 
This  plan  may  answer  very  well  in  large  towns,  where 
no  yard-room  exists ;  or  in  cases  of  having  a  hive  or 
two,  kept  more  as  a  source  of  amusement  than  of  profit ; 
but  in  no  case  can  bees  be  brought  into  one's  dwelling, 
or  any  out-house  not  built  expressly  for  them,  and  prove 
prosperous  in  the  long  run.  They  will  thrive  a  short 
period,  in  spite  of  all  the  disadvantages  under  which 
they  labor,  and  finally,  they  are  "  non  est  inventus,"  as 
the  constable  says,  when  he  returns  his  writ  unexecuted. 
As  for  preventing  the  ravages  of  the  bee-moth,  by  at- 
tempting to  get  up  out  of  her  reach,  you  might  as  well 
attempt  to  get  out  of  the  reach  of  the  fowls  of  the  air, 
by  ascending  heavenward.  The  practice  of  thus  con- 
fining bees  in  the  rooms  of  dwellings,  is  highly  injurious 
on  account  of  not  affording  a  plenteous  infusion  of  pure 
air  in,  and  around  the  hives,  which  is  so  vitally  essential 
to  all  animate  nature.  Think  not,  reader,  because  a  bee 
is  but  a  small  insect,  that  she  needs  not  the  necessity  of 
breathing  heaven's  pure  ether,  like  unto  man.  Though 
"man  is  fearfully  and  wonderfully  made;"  yet  the  same 
Architect  that  formed  man,  also  formed  the  bee,  and 
with  the  same  master-hand.  Let  not  frail  mortals  usurp 
a  high  distinction  in  the  wonderful  mechanism  of  their 
frame,  over  that  of  a  little  bee ;  for,  we  find  no  less  to 
excite  our  amazement  in   the  one,  than  we  do  in  the 


4 

bee-keeper's  manual.  239 

other.  The  air  that  man  breathes,  was  not  made  for 
him  alone,  and  if  we  place  the  bee  where  it  is  not  found 
in  its  purity,  we  do  her  wrong,  since  nature  never  thus 
destined  her  to  be. 

There  is  another  method  of  placing  bees  in  rooms.  I 
allude  to  allowing  them  to  occupy  a  small  room  at  large, 
without  being  subject  to  hives  at  all ;  t  do  not  approve 
of  this  method.  In  the  first  place,  we  get  no  increase 
from  our  bees.  They  will  not  multiply  and  fill  a  whole 
room,  as  some  persons  may  imagine.  The  natural  in- 
herent hostility  of  queens  towards  rivals,  prevents  such 
a  result.  Two  queens  cannot  exist  in  the  same  family. 
One  must  be  mistress  of  "  all  she  surveys."  It  matters 
not  how  far  you  "  extend  the  area  of  freedom,"  if  a 
second  queen  exist,  she  will  be  found  by  the  legitimate 
sovereign,  and  one  of  the  two  must  perish,  and  that 
quickly.  Should  bees  form  detached  settlements  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  same  room,  perhaps  several  families 
rhight  exist  for  a  few  years ;  but  it  is  folly  to  manage 
bees  in  this  way.  The  surplus  honey  is  not  as  easily 
taken  away  on  this  plan,  as  it  is  when  stored  in  supers ; 
and  all  the  casualties  attending  the  prosperity  of  bees, 
from  the  ravages  of  the  moth,  are  subject  to  result  from 
this  mode  of  management,  as  well  as  from  any  other 
method. 

BEES  THRIVE  IN  LARGE  TOWNS,  ETC. 

Bees  will  thrive  in  a  large  town  with  a  fertile  sur- 
rounding country,  as  well  as  in  any  other  place,  unless 
it  be  in  a  situation  of  peculiar  merit,  such  as  in  a  rich 


240  miner's    AMERICAN 

valley,  with  bee-pasturage  in  its  greatest  profusion  ex- 
isting in  every  directioli. 

In  every  town  with  a  population  of  from  5,000  to 
10,000  inhabitants  ;  and  even  in  cities  with  from  15,000 
to  50,000  people,  bees  may  be  kept  with  the  best  results. 

Bees  fly  from  one  to  two  miles  with  the  greatest  fa- 
cility, to  obtain  honey,  when  it  cannot  be  obtained 
within  that  space ;  consequently,  an  apiary  situated  in 
the  centre  of  a  town,  with  a  radius  of  half  or  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  each  way,  before  reaching  the  open 
country,  would  be  prosperous.  In  the  spring  of  the 
year,  the  blossoming  trees  of  every  country  town 
whether  large  or  small,  afford  a  rich  harvest  of  honey. 

In  the  city  of  New  York,  hemmed  in  as  it  is,  by  two 
large  rivers,  I  cannot  say  that  I  think  bees  would  thrive 
unless  they  be  fed.  I  am  aware  that  Mr.  Townly  has 
endeavored  to  inculcate  a  different  belief,  and  it  was  his 
interest  to  do  so ;  but  I  shall  not  transcend  the  limits 
of  truth,  for  any  gain  that  might  accrue  to  me  by  so 
doing. 

In  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  bees  would  do  very  well. 
There  they  would  have  a  range  in  the  interior,  without 
crossing  the  river.  In  almost  any  other  city  in  the 
United  States,  except  New  York,  bees  may  be  kept  with 
profit ;  but  not  as  profitably  as  in  locations  out  of  town. 
In  any  situation  where  the  most  of  the  ground  is  under 
a  state  of  cultivation,  that  is,  plo\Ved  up  yearly,  bees 
do  not  thrive,  as  they  do  where  there  are  extensive 
grazing  lands  :  but  they  do  well  in  almost  any  place.  I 
know  of  no  location   in  the  United  States  where  they 


bee-keeper's    iMANUAL.  241 

would  not  prosper,  except  in  the  heart  of  the  city  of 
New  York. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


PASTURAGE. 

The  success  attending  the  keeping  of  bees  depends, 
in  a  great  measure,  upon  the  character  of  the  pasturage 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  apiary. 

Of  all  the  resources  of  bees,  nothing  can  equal  the 
white,  or  Dutch  clover,  that  abounds  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent,  throughout  the  whole  country  ;  I  may  almost 
say,  that  without  the  existence  of  this  flower,  it  would 
be  useless  to  attempt  to  establish  an  apiary ;  yet  there  is 
no  section  of  the  country  where  it  does  not  exist ;  con- 
sequently, there  is  nothing  to  fear  on  that  point.  In 
any  place  where  this  clover  is  found  growing  in  spon- 
taneous profusion,  there  will  bees  thrive  beyond  a  doubt. 
It  blooms  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  and  continues  in 
blossom  to  some  extent,  all  summer ;  but  the  height  of 
the  honey-harvest  from  it,  is  during  the  month  of  June. 
It  is  from  white  clover  that  the  purest  and  most  deli- 
cious honey  is  procured.  No  other  pasturage  can  com- 
pare with  this,  so  far  as  the  purity  and  flavor  of  the 
honey  is  concerned. 
II 


242  miner's    AMERICAN 

Next  to  the  above  clover,  stands  the  various  blossom- 
ing trees  of  orchards  and  gardens,  that  are  spread  over 
every  fertile  landscape.  In  the  spring,  the  cherry,  peach 
and  nectarine  trees,  first  invite  the  bee ;  then  the  apple 
and  pear  trees  spread  their  flower}^  canopies  over  the 
green  fields,  and  afford  a  short  but  rich  harvest  of  honey. 

But  first  of  all  in  the  catalogue  of  sources,  whence 
the  bee  derives  a  spring  supply  of  honey,  is  the  willow. 
When  all  nature  wears  a  sombre  hue,  with  scarcely  a 
flower  upon  her  bosom,  the  willow  sends  forth  its  tiny 
shoots,  from  which  the  bee  obtains  her  first  gatherings. 
Let  one  but  pass  beneath '  some  stately  willow  at  this 
period,  and  his  ears  will  be  greeted  as  with  the  music  of 
some  sweet-toned  seolian  harp,  that  seems  hid  among 
its  branches;  but  let  him  cast  his  eye  above,  and  there 
a  cloud  of  bees  may  be  seen  flying  to  and  fro,  chanting 
a  merry  song,  as  they  lightly  dance  from  shoot  to  shooi. 

Primeval  bliss,  without  alloy, 

Where  cpres  can  ne'er  their  peace  destroy. 

Among  the  earliest  resources  of  the  bee,  besides  the 
willow,  are  the  osier,  the  poplai-,  the  sycamore,  the  plane, 
the  snow-drop,  the  crocus,  white  alyssum,  laurustinus, 
&c.  To  these  may  be  added,  the  gooseberry,  raspberry, 
and  currant  bushes,  with  sweet  marjoram,  winter  savory 
and  peppermint. 

Alder  buds  and  flowers  afford  honey  during  several 
months.  The  flowers  of  the  bean,  cucumbers,  squashes, 
pumpkins  and  melons  of  all  kinds,  afford  a  large  supply 
of  pollen. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  243 

To  the  above  may  be  added  the  sunflower,  the  dandy- 
lion,  the  hollyhock,  and  Spanish  broom;  but  above  all, 
as  a  source  of  pollen,  is  the  sunflower.  In  its  golden 
heads,  may  constantly  be  seen  the  industrious  workers, 
covered  with  the  yellow  farina  of  this  flower,  and  busily 
engaged  in  kneading  it  upon  the  cavities  of  their  legs. 
Every  bee-keeper  should  plant  a  few  dozen  seeds  of  this 
flower  around  the  border  of  his  garden,  or  among  his  po- 
tatoes. Should  an  occasional  seed  be  dropped  in  the 
potato  fleld,  when  planting  that  vegetable,  say  at  every 
sixth  hill,  the  crop  of  sunflowers  would  be  valuable  for 
the  seed  to  feed  poultry,  and  be  of  great  advantage  to 
the  bees,  and  not  lessen  the  potato  crop  in  the  least. 

The  blossoms  of  mustard,  turnips,  and  cabbage,  the 
privet,  the  holly,  phillyrea,  bramble,  sweet  fennel,  nas- 
turtiums, asparagus,  crowfoot,  dead  nettle,  vegetable 
marrow,  white  lily,  coltsfoot,  borage,  viper's  bugloss, 
mignonette,  lemon  thyme,  teasel,  furze,  heath,  sainfoin, 
&c.,  are  much  frequented  by  bees. 

Among  the  forest  resources  of  the  bee  in  this  country, 
the  most  conspicuous  are  the  basswood  and  jnaple. 
From  the  basswood  in  particular,  a  great  supply  of 
honey  is  obtained  ;  and  where  this  tree  abounds,  in  con- 
nection with  a  profusion  of  white  clover,  there  is  the 
apiarian's  true  El  Dorado. 

Common  red  clover,  that  seems  so  very  inviting,  is 
perfectly  useless  to  the  honey-bee,  as  so  many  thistle 
heads  ;  for  the  reason,  that  the  probosis  of  the  bee 
cannot  penetrate  the  nectaries  of  this  flower,  owing 
to  their  great  length. 


244  bee-keeper's  manual. 

As  a  fall  source  of  honey,  nothing  can  equal  buck- 
wheat ;  the  honey,  however,  is  not  of  so  fine  a  flavor, 
as  that  made  from  white  clover,  let  who  will  assert  to 
the  contrary.  It  is  much  darker  than  that  gathered  in 
June  or  July,  from  other  sources,  and  it  will  not  com- 
mand so  high  a  price,  as  that  obtained  from  other 
flowers.  Buckwheat  aflbrds  a  supply  of  honey  for 
about  four  weeks,  and  every  bee-keeper  who  is  a  farmer, 
should  sow  plentifully  of  this  article,  for  the  twofold  pur- 
pose of  the  grain,  and  its  advantage  to  his  bees. 

Some  people  imagine  that  the  vicinity  of  extensive 
flower  gardens,  is  highly  beneficial  to  bees  ;  such  as  the 
gardens  of  gentlemen  residing  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  large  cities,  where  almost  every  flowering  plant  and 
shrub  that  adorns  both  hemispheres  may  be  seen.  This 
is  a  mistake.  Bees  do  not  frequent  such  places  at  all, 
unless  it  be  to  visit  a  few  of  the  common  order  of 
flowers.  Roses,  pinks,  tulips,  carnations,  dahlias,  6fC., 
have  no  attractions  for  this  insect ;  but  where  these 
things  exist,  may  generally  be  found,  a  rich  harvest  for 
them.  As  I  have  already  said,  the  blossoms  of  clterry, 
nectarine,  peach,  apple,  and  pear  trees,  are  their  first  re- 
source ;  then  comes  the  mantle  of  white  clover,  from 
which  a  speedy  harvest  is  reapt. 

I  recommend  no  especial  crop  to  be  sown  for  bees,  as 
a  source  of  honey,  except  buckwheat ;  and  this  is  pro- 
fitable of  itself,  to  say  nothing  of  the  honey  that  it 
yields. 


CHAPTER     XVIII. 


HONEY  DEW. 

This  is  a  substance  that  is  supposed  by  some  to  be  an 
exudation  from  the  leaves  of  trees ;  such  as  the  oak, 
laurel,  bramble,  poplar,  willow,  &c.  Other  naturalists 
have  considered  it  a  substance  that  falls  from  the 
atmosphere. 

Mr.  Diicarne,  a  foreign  naturalist  of  distinction  thus 
speaks  : — "  You  know  what  honey  is,  which  the  bees 
collect  with  so  much  ardor  from  flowers,  but  you  do  not, 
perhaps,  know  that  there  are  two  kinds  ;  one,  which  is 
real  honey,  being  a  juice  of  the  earth,  which  proceeding 
from  the  plants  by  transpiration,  collects  at  the  bottom 
of  the  calyx  of  the  flowers,  and  thickens  afterwards ;  it 
is,  in  other  words,  a  digested  and  refined  sap  in  the  tubes 
of  plants  ;  the  other,  which  is  called  the  honey  dew,  is 
an  effect  of  air,  or  a  species  of  gluey  dew,  which  falls 
earlier  or  later,  but  in  general  a  little  before  and  during 
the  dog  days.  The  dew  alights  on  the  flowers,  and  the 
leaves  of  the  plants  and  trees,  but  the  heat  operating 
on  it,  coagulates  and  thickens  it,  whilst,  on  the  other. 


246  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

the  honey  which  falls  on  the  flowers  is  preserved  a 
much  longer  time. 

"  Those  persons  who  have  not  viewed  the  honey  dew 
fall,  like  myself,  have  asserted,  that  it  is  nothing  more 
than  the  sap  or  juice  of  the  plants,  which,  in  hot 
weather,  experience,  perhaps,  a  greater  fermentation, 
and  by  which  it  is  forced  through  the  leaves.  In  con- 
tradiction to  this,  I  assert  that  it  is  perceived  much 
better  in  the  morning  before  the  sun  has  been  able  to 
dry  and  harden  it.  These  persons  are,  however,  de- 
ceived. /  have  not  only  seen  this  honey  deio  fall  a  hun- 
dred times  in  the  form  of  fine  rain  on  the  leaves  of  an 
ash,  but  I  have  also  showed  it  to  others,  and  the 
globules  were  most  distinctly  perceived."  Whether 
this  substance  be  an  atmospheric  phenomenon,  or  an  exu- 
dation, or  secretion  of  certain  trees  and  shrubs,  is  of 
little  consequence  to  the  apiarian,  beyond  merely  satis- 
fying his  curiosity. 

I  will  now  give  a  little  testimony  on  the  other  side  of 
the  case. 

"I  have  long  adhered  to  the  opinion,"  says  Mr. 
Knight,  "  that  the  honey  dew  deposed  on  the  leaves  of 
the  trees,  was  only  an  exudation,  although  the  form  of 
the  globules  scarcely  bore  any  resemblance  to  each 
other,  but  were  rather  an  imitation  of  a  species  of  rain. 
On  examining  more  minutely  different  trees,  on  which 
the  honey  dew  was  apparent,  chance  led  me  to  the  dis- 
covery of  a  holm-oak,  on  which  the  honey  dew  had  re- 
cently appeared,  and  in  its  primitive  form,  which  is  that 
of  a  transfused   humor.     The  leaves  were  covered  with 


bee-keeper's  manual.  247 

several  thousands  of  globules,  or  small,  round  and  com- 
pact drops,  which,  however,  seem  to  be  either  touching 
or  intermixing,  similar  to  those  which  are  seen  on  the 
plants  after  a  thick  fog.  The  position  of  each  globule 
appeared  to  indicate,  not  only  the  point  from  which  it 
exuded,  but  also  the  number  of  the  pores,  or  the  glands 
of  the  leaf  in  which  this  mellifluous  juice  had  been 
pressed.  I  assured  myself  that  the  honey  dew  possessed 
the  real  color  of  honey,  which  alone  was  sufficient  to 
decide  its  origin,  and  our  surprise  need  not  be  great  that 
exudation  is  not  suspected  as  the  cause." 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  this  subject  is  but  another 
question  of  the  disputed  catalogue  that  pertains  to  the 
histqry  and  economy  of  the  honey-bee.  Some  natu- 
ralists contend  that  there  are  two  sorts  of  honey  dew, 
neither  of  which  falls  from  the  atmosphere,  "  one  a  se- 
cretion from  the  surface  of  the  leaf,  and  the  other  a 
deposition  from  the  body  of  the  aphis."  Thus  speaks 
Dr.  Bevan.  The  aphis  is  an  insect  that  abounds  on 
the  leaves  of  certain  trees,  at  certain  seasons,  and  they 
are  said  to  eject  a  saccharine  fluid  from  their  bodies, 
in  very  small  limpid  drops,  of  the  consistence  and  flavor 
of  honey. 

It  is  my  opinion  that  no  honey  dew  ever  existed,  that 
was  not  an  exudation  from  the  leaves  of  the  tree.  It 
appears  to  be  so  inconsistent,  that  nature  should  shower 
down  a  sweet  mist  that  can  only  be  perceived  on  the 
leaves  of  shrubs  or  trees.  Why  do  we  not  perceive  the 
bees  gathering  it  from  stones,  and  other  substances,  as 


24S  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

well  as  from  the  leaves  of  trees,  if  it  were  an  atmos- 
pheric mist  or  dew  ? 

There  is  no  doubt  of  such  a  substance  existing,  and 
on  this  account,  the  proximity  of  diversified  forests  to 
the  apiary  is  beneficial. 


CHAPTER    XIX 


BEE-DRESS,  ETC. 

The  above  cut  represents  a  bee-dress  or  head  cover- 
ing, made  by  inserting  a  piece  of  wire-cloth  in  a  muslin 
cowl,  that  reaches  down  over  the  shoulders,  securing 
the  neck  by  buttoning  the  coat  over  it,  as  high  up  as 
possible. 

There  are  various  ways  of  protecting  one's  self  in 
operations  with  bees,  but  there  is  nothing  superior  to 


^  bee-keeper's  manual.  249 

that  shown  in  the  cut.  A  veil  is  often  used,  or  a 
piece  of  musquito  netting  is  thrown  over  the  head  ;  but 
such  things  are  but  temporary  and  imperfect  security. 
If  the  bee-keeper  is  accustomed  to  hiving  swarms,  and 
if  he  be  one  that  is  favored  by  bees  generally,  and  has 
but  an  occasional  use  for  protection,  he  may.  be  as  care- 
less of  exposing  his  person  to  their  stings  as  he  chooses ; 
but  every  apiarian  who  has  frequent  use  of  a  protection, 
and  especially  if  bee  stings  produce  much  pain  and 
swelling,  should  have  perfect  security  against  their  at- 
tacks. 

There  is  a  class  of  persons  who  are  seldom  stung  by 
bees,  when  other  people,  placed  in  precisely  the  same 
situation,  would  not  escape  without  paying  dearly  for 
their  temerity.  The  reason  of  bees  showing  this  par- 
tiality, is  merely  owing  to  the  odor  of  different  people's 
breath.  Bees  are  very  quick  to  take  oifence  when  ap- 
proached by  a  person  whose  breath  is  unpleasant  to 
them. 

In  consequence  of  the  breath  being  offensive,  it  is 
best  to  suppress  respiration  as  much  as  possible,  when 
holding  the  head  immediately  over  them,  or  when  the 
breath  would  be  likely  to  be  scented  by  them. 

The  principle  advantages  in  a  bee-dress  on  the  fore- 
going plan  are,  that  the  vision  is  not  obstructed ;  a  per- 
son being  able  to  look  through  the  wire  cloth  almost  as 
plainly  as  if  no  such  thing  intervened ;  and  the  facility 
that  is  offered  for  free  respiration.  The  wire-cloth  need 
not  be  so  large  as  to  cover  the  whole  face,  but  simply 
over  the  eyes,  if  you  please.  It  is  sewed  in  with  ordi- 
11* 


260  miner's    AMERICAN 

nary  linen  thread.  Wire-cloth  of  the  kind  used  for  this 
purpose,  may  be  obtained  in  cities  and  large  towns,  at 
the  agricultural  stores,  or  at  bird-cage  makers.  It  should 
be  quite  fine  and  pliable,  and  the  suitable  size  may  at 
once  be  known  by  ascertaining  whether  you  can  see 
distinctly  through  it  when  held  close  to  the  eyes. 

When  this  dress  is  put  on  over  the  head,  the  coat 
should  be  thrown  off  sufficiently  to  allow  the  lower  folds 
to  fall  down  around  the  neck  and  shoulders,  when  it  is 
to  be  raised  and  buttoned  up  under  the  chin.  Over  this 
head-covering  a  hat  is  to  be  worn,  of  a  little  larger  di- 
mensions than  usual,  and  one  that  is  kept  especially  for 
such  occasions. 

The  length  of  the  dress  may  be  diminished  some,  from 
that  appearing  in  the  cut ;  say  six  inches  below  the  neck 
does  very  well ;  and  it  may  be  made  without  contract- 
ing it  around  the  neck  as  the  engraving  represents,  if 
you  choose  to  do  so.  It  is  the  most  simple  thing  to 
make  imaginable.  All  you  have  to  do  is,  to  get  a  little 
black  or  dark-colored  muslin,  cut  and  make  it  in  the 
form  necessary,  sew  in  the  wire-cloth,  and  it  is  done, 
costing  about  one  shilling  and  sixpence. 

When  the  head-dress  is  made,  you  then  want  a  stout 
pair  of  woollen  mittens  or  gloves,  with  an  old  stocking 
leg,  five  or  six  inches  long,  sewed  on  to  the  opening  of 
each ;  and  with  these  on,  and  drawn  up  well  under  or 
over  your  coat  sleeves,  and  with  your  eyes  peeping 
through  the  wire-cloth  and  coat  buttoned  up  to  the  chin, 
you  will  feel  like  encountering  the  whole  of  the  bees  in 
your  apiary,  as  if  they  were  so  many  flies. 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL,  251 

It  sometimes  happens,  that  when  the  bees  find  the 
head  and  hands  invulnerable,  they  will  descend  and 
crawl  up  the  legs  of  your  pantaloons.  It  is  best  to  wear 
boots,  and  in  some  cases,  when  many  bees  are  placed  in 
a  situation  where  they  might  chance  to  get  into  the  legs 
of  your  nether  garments,  it  will  be  requisite  to  tie  strings 
around  to  prevent  such  a  result. 

Woollen  gloves  or  mittens  should  always  be  used,  as 
the  stings  of  the  bees  can  be  easily  withdrawn  from 
such;  whereas,  they  cannot  from  buckskin  or  leather, 
which  causes  the  death  of  every  bee  that  perforates 
them. 

BEE-STINGS HOW  CURED,   ETC. 

The  venom  or  poison  of  the  honey-bee,  is  very  active, 
rather  more  so  than  that  of  the  wasp.  The  fluid  is  of  a 
transparent  nature,  and  when  applied  to  the  tongue  im- 
parts a  sweet  taste.  It  is  not  necessary  that  the  fluid 
should  be  imparted  from  the  sting  of  a  bee,  to  produce 
pain  and  swelling ;  the  puncture  of  a  needle,  with  the 
fluid  on  its  point,  would  produce  precisely  the  same 
efiect. 

The  activity  of  the  poison  depends  somewhat  on  the 
temperature  of  the  weather.  During  the  heat  of  sum- 
mer it  causes  much  greater  inflammation,  than  in  the 
winter  season. 

Some  persons  are  much  more  affected  by  stings  than 
others  ;  this  is  owing  to  a  peculiar  state  of  the  system 
or  blood,  as  it  exists  in  different  people. 

The  only  positive  and  immediate  cure  for  a  bee-sting, 


252  miner's     AMERICAN 

that  I  have  ever  heard  of,  that  may  be  depended  on  in 
all  cases,  is  tobacco.  This  remedy  was  recommended 
to  me  as  an  infallible  cure ;  yet  I  had  but  little  faith  in 
it,  still  I  tried  it,  and  as  I  supposed,  properly,  and  found 
little  or  no  benefit  from  its  use.  I  reported  its  failure 
to  cure  in  my  own  case,  to  my  informant,  and  he  stated 
that  I  had  not  applied  it  thoroughly,  as  I  ought  to  have 
done ; — that  he  was  certain  that  it  would  be  an  effectual 
cure,  never  having  known  it  to  fail  in  a  single  instance, 
when  correctly  applied.  The  next  time  I  got  stung,  I 
applied  the  tobacco  as  directed,  and  found  it  to  cure  like 
a  charm !  The  manner  of  applying  it,  is  as  follows : — 
Take  ordinary  fine-cut  smoking  or  chewing  tobacco, 
and  lay  a  pinch  of  it  in  the  hollow  of  your  hand  and 
moisten  it,  and  work  it  over  until  the  juice  appears  quite 
dark  colored ;  then  apply  it  to  the  part  stung,  rubbing 
in  the  juice,  with  the  tobacco  between  your  thumb  and 
fingers,  as  with  a  sponge.  As  fast  as  the  tobacco  be- 
comes dry,  add  a  little  moisture  and  continue  to  rub, 
and  press  out  the  juice  upon  the  inflamed  spot,  during 
five  or  ten  minutes,  and  if  applied  soon  after  being  stung, 
it  will  cure  in  every  case.  Before  I  tried  it,  I  was  fre- 
quently laid  up  with  swollen  eyes  and  limbs  for  days  ; 
now  it  is  amusement  to  get  stung. 

There  are  various  other  reputed  remedies,  such  as 
ammonia,  (spirits  of  hartshorn,)  saloeratus  diluted  in 
water,  cold  water  alone,  and  earth  mixed  with  water, 
and  applied  to  the  puncture,  and  various  other  alleged 
cures,  all  of  which  I  have  tried,  and  found  partially  in- 
effectual. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  253 

Ammonia  is  excellent  to  allay  swelling,  and  if  a  cloth 
be  saturated  with  it,  and  applied  to  the  wound,  it  will 
extract  the  most  of  the  poison,  and  at  the  same  time 
take  off  the  skin.  I  had  the  entire  skin  of  my  forehead 
taken  off  by  it  on  a  certain  occasion,  when  stung  over 
one  of  my  eyes.  I  felt  a  most  powerful  burning,  but 
being  determined  to  effect  a  cure,  I  bore  the  pain  with 
patience  for  several  hours,  when  I  found  that  the  swell- 
ing had  abated ;  but  I  had  lost  the  skin  of  my  forehead, 
which  was  far  worse  than  the  sting.  It  will  do  very 
well  to  apply  it  in  this  way,  if  not  left  on  too  long.  Oc- 
casional bathing  with  ammonia,  is  a  good  way  to  ap- 
ply it. 

Another  remedy  is  an  onion  sliced  in  two,  and  well 
covered  with  fine  salt,  and  bound  on  the  part  affected. 
This  is  a  very  good  antidote. 

Some  apiarians  insist  that  nothing  is  better  than  cold 
ivater,  quickly  and  freely  applied.  This  is  a  remedy 
that  is  always  at  hand. 

The  tobacco,  however,  is  the  great  panacea,  and  I 
hope  that  none  of  my  readers  will  refuse  to  try  it  from 
prejudice.  Let  every  bee-keeper  have  a  small  paper  of 
this  weed  handy,  where,  in  case  of  being  stung,  or  any 
of  his  family,  he  can  apply  it  without  delay.  I  can  cure 
any  sting,  no  matter  how  bad,  in  five  minutes,  with  to- 
bacco, so  that  one  would  not  know  that  he  had  been 
stung,  from  any  sensation  of  pain  that  would  be  felt 
after  its  application. 

It  is  always  best,  as  soon  as  stung,  to  search  for  the 
sting,  and  extract  it,  as  it  is  generally  left  in  the  flesh  by 


254  BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL. 

the  bee,  it  being  barbed  like  the  shaft  of  an  arrow,  and 
it  meets  with  so  much  resistance,  when  the  bee  attempts 
to  withdraw  it,  that  she  is  forced  to  leave  it  behind. 

I  would  observe  in  regard  to  exciting  bees  to  the  use 
of  their  stings,  that  the  apiarian  should  never  repulse  an 
attack  ;  no  matter  how  many  nor  how  furious  they  may 
dash  at  you,  when  performing  some  operation  that  ex- 
cites them,  always  keep  calm,  and  pay  not  the  least  re- 
gard to  their  anger.  If  you  find  that  they  are  coming 
rather  too  hot,  discretion  may  dictate  a  retreat,  even 
when  fully  protected  with  a  bee-dress  and  gloves ;  and 
let  your  retreat  be  slow  and  cautious  ;  and  if  any  dense 
shrubbery  be  at  hand,  run  your  head  into  it  for  a  minute 
or  two.  I  have  been  exposed  to  their  attacks,  when 
their  excitement  was  so  great,  that  they  would  dash 
against  the  wire-cloth  with  the  violence  and  sound  of 
hail  against  the  windows,  in  a  storm ;  at  which  time  the 
odor  from  their  venom-bags  was  very  strong.  It  is  best 
to  retreat,  when  such  a  crisis  exists,  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  let  them  cool  down  a  little. 

When  you  have  a  pair  of  thick  woollen  mittens  or 
gloves  on,  you  need  not  fear  in  the  least,  that  you  will 
be  stung.  Let  as  many  bees  attempt  it  as  may  please, 
do  not  withdraw  your  hand  suddenly  from  any  position, 
when  covered  with  them,  even  if  they  try  their  best  to 
sting  you ;  as  I  have  already  observed,  that  any  sudden 
motion  tends  to  arouse  their  anger. 


CHAPTER    XX. 


SWARMING,  ETC. 

The  primary  causes  of  swarming  may  be  said  to  be 
an"  instinct  natm-al  to  the  bee,  which  teaches  her  to  ex- 
tend and  propagate  her  species.  This  is  a  wise  and 
universal  influence  of  nature,  that  pervades  all  animate 
creation. 

In  order  to  insure  this  desired  result,  nature  has  had 
recourse  to  harmonious  causes  and  effects,  that  produce 
the  ends  desired.  The  only  way  in  which  the  honey- 
bee can  increase  and  propagate  her  species  by  multiply- 
ing families  or  colonies,  is  by  sending  off"  fahnilies  as  pio- 
neers, to  find  shelter  and  protection  for  themselves ;  and« 
to  insure  this,  there  must  be  certain  causes  that  operate 
to  force  out  swarms,  even  against  their  wishes. 

In  order  that  the  reader  may  arrive  at  a  proper  in- 
sight of  this  subject,  I  will  make  a  few  remarks  on  the 
g^eral  features  of  breeding,  and  the  particular  influ- 
ences brought  to  bear  on  the  queen  of  every  family,  in 
the  spring  of  the  year,  when  all  measures  tending  to 
produce  emigration  are  put  in  operation. 

In  the  first  place  the  queen  commences  her  great  laying 


256  miner's    AMERICAN 

in  March  or  April,  according  to  the  state  of  the  weather. 
If  the  weather  be  very  mild,  she  may  sometimes  com- 
mence as  early  as  February ;  but  subsequent  cold 
weather  generally  intervenes  and  puts  a  stop  to  further 
laying  for  a  while.  She  continues  to  lay  eggs  in  mode- 
rate numbers,  until  about  the  first  of  May,  when  she 
produces  from  100  to  200  eggs  per  day,  for  a  few  weeks. 
It  is  at  this  period  that  she  decides,  or,  perhaps,  her 
workers  decide,  whether  any  emigrant  families  shall  be 
sent  off.  They  reason  thus  ; — can  all  the  tenants  of 
this  hive  that  now  exist,  or  those  to  exist  hereafter,  find 
room  to  labor  here  to  advantage?  Whether  it  be  the 
queen  that  decides  this  important  question,  or  her  sub- 
jects, we  can  never  know ;  but  this  we  do  know,  that 
if  the  space  within  the  hive  be  such  as  to  afford  room 
for  all  the  family  to  labor  to  advantage,  it  is  decided 
positively  and  irrevocably,  not  to  send  forth  any  swarms, 
and  no  royal  cells  are  constructed!  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  increase  of  the  family  will  be  such  as  to  be 
unable  to  find  suitable  accommodation  at  home,  it  is  as 
jDOsitively  decided,  that  one  or  more  swarms  shall  emi- 
grate; and  the  royal  cells  are  constructed,  in  which  to 
rear  the  queens  that  are  to  go  forth  with  them,  or  with 
all  except  the  first.  Thus  it  will  be  seen,  that  the  size 
of  the  hive  settles  this  question  entirely. 

If  it  be  decided  that  a  family  or  two  can  be  safely 
spared,  and  still  leave  a  populous  stock  behind,  it  be- 
comes necessary  to  create  a  large  number  of  drones,  to 
ensure  the  impregnation  of  the  young  queens,  as  has 
already  been  fully  illustrated.     Coeval  with  the  laying 


bee-keeper's  manual.  257 

of  drone-eggs,  which  generally  takes  place  from  the  1st 
to  the  10th  of  May,  is  the  construction  of  queen-cells. 
From  fire  to  ten  royal  cells  are  usually  commenced,  and 
the  same  kind  of  eggs  that  produce  ordinary  workers, 
are  laid  in  these  royal  cells,  from  which  queens  are  pro- 
duced, by  a  different  treatment  and  food,  as  I  before 
illustrated.  The  eggs  are  not  all  deposited  in  the  royal 
cells  at  once,  but  on  different  occasions,  so  as  to  mature 
about  the  time  that  they  will  be  wanted  to  go  off  with 
swarms.  There  is  generally  a  superabundance  of  young 
queens  matured,  so  as  to  be  on  the  safe  side,  and  guard 
against  any  casualties  that  may  ensue.  This  is  exactly 
according  to  human  reasoning  and  human  judgment,  to 
provide  a  few  over  the  exact  number  of  any  particular 
thing  desired,  where  the  least  risk  of  loss  may  appear. 

A  young  queen  is  never  suffered  to  leave  the  cell 
until  the^rs^  swarm  has  departed  with  the  old  queen  at 
their  head.  If  any  of  these  young  scions  of  royalty 
should  be  ready  to  emerge  from  the  cells  before  the 
swarm  is  ready  to  issue,  they  are  kept  prisoners  therein 
by  the  workers  until  the  swarm  has  departed !  Here  is 
one  of  the  most  wonderful  features  of  the  economy  of 
the  bee.  Nature  has  implanted  so  deadly  a  hatred  of 
rivalry  in  the  queen  bee,  that  she  seizes  her  own  off- 
spring, as  soon  as  a  young  queen  emerges  from  her  cell, 
and  thrusts  a  deadly  sting  into  her,  without  the  least 
compunction.  Again,  nature  has  ordained  that  the  old 
queen  should  go  off  with  the  first  emigrating  family. 
This  is  just  as  it  should  be.  The  old  queen's  impregna- 
tion being  effectual  from  the  season  previous,  she  is 


258  miner's    AMERICAN 

ready  at  once  to  |^o  on  with  the  increase  of  her  family; 
whereas,  a  young  one  would  suffer  the  casualties  of  de- 
lav  in  her  impregnation,  and  thus  endanger  the  existence 
of  the  colony ;  and  the  issue  of  more  than  one  swarm 
being  a  precarious  matter,  it  is  a  wise  dispensation  in  the 
nature  of  this  insect,  that  the  old  queen  is  compelled  to 
leave  the  hive  with  the  first  swarm.  I  say  compelled, 
yes,  actually  compelled  to  go  forth !  Never  was  there 
an  instance  known,  where  she  remained  behind,  and  a 
young  queen  took  her  place.  The  reason  lies  here; — 
the  moment  a  young  queen  is  matured  and  commences 
piping,  that  is,  says  peep,  peep,  which  may  often  be 
heard,  it  is  because  she  is  in  duress,  or  in  other  words, 
she  is  held  in  confinement,  and  fed  by  the  workers. 
When  this  takes  place,  the  old  queen  is  aroused,  and  in 
her  anger,  she  attempts  to  get  at  the  royal  cells  to  de- 
stroy the  young  queens  that  are  ready  to  emerge,  and 
she  is  restrained  by  the  workers.  In  her  desperation  and 
agitation  .that  seems  to  dementate  her,  finding  that  she 
is  not  permitted  to  immolate  her  young,  she  rushes  out 
of  the  hive,  calling  in  her  train  a  portion  of  the  family, 
being  resolved  to  remain  no  longer,  where  her  authority 
is  rendered  nugatory.  It  is  not  wholly  the  loss  of  her 
absolute  authority  that  causes  her  to  depart,  but  it  is 
also  a  fear  and  dread  of  encountering  her  rivals  to  the 
throne,  that  also  has  an  influence  in  causing  her  to  rush 
from  her  tenement.  When  the  time  arrives  for  her  de- 
parture, she  commences  a  sudden  vibration  of  the  wings, 
and  rushes  over  every  part  of  the  combs  with  the  ut- 
most speed,  and  her  subjects,  in  her  trail,  catch  the 


bee-keeper's  manual.  259 

impulse,  and  a  commotion  ensues  within,  that  beggars 
all  description.  When  the  notice  is  fairly  given  to  the 
whole  family,  the  queen  rushes  towards  the  outlet,  and 
if  in  her  passage  she  happen  to  pass  near  the  royal  cells, 
the  workers  mistaking  her  intention  to  leave  the  hive, 
for  a  rush  at  a  young  queen,  seize  and  hold  her  a  pris- 
oner. In  the  meantime  the  word  has  been  given  out 
to  swarm,  and  away  go  the  workers,  as  if  ten  thousand 
of  their  deadliest  enemies  were  on  the  chase.  They 
cluster  as  usual,  but  in  a  few  mmutes  they  miss  their 
queen,  and  all  is  confusion  again.  They  return  to  the 
hive.  This  is  the  reason  of  swarms  sometimes  issuing 
without  a  queen. 

If  the  queen  pass  near  no  royal  cells,  containing 
young  queens  ready  to  emerge,  she  goes  off,  and  then 
all  is  peaceable  again. 

Now,  we  will  follow  the  condition  of  things  in  the 
hive  after  the  old  queen  is  departed.  The  workers  at 
once  go  to  the  oldest  of  the  young  queens  that  is  kept 
in  durance,  if  there  be  more  than  one,  and  say  "  madam, 
you  are  at  liberty  to  come  out."  She  comes  forth, 
strong  and  full  of  fire  and  energy,  and  at  once  assumes 
the  helm.  She,  in  turn,  also  scents  out  h'er  sisters  in 
royalty,  and  if  permitted  by  the  workers,  she  would  fall 
upon  them  and  slay  them  while  yet  in  their  cells. 

We  now  come  to  a  crisis  where  all  future  swarming 
rests  upon  the  decision  of  the  workers  at  this  juncture. 
If  no  more  swarms  can  be  spared,  the  workers  immedi- 
ately give  up  the  guarding  of  any  more  royal  cells,  and 
the  queen  that   has  just  assumed  the  reins  of  govern- 


260  MINER  8    AMERICAN 

ment,  being  the  oldest  and  strongest,  rushes  upon  all  the 
young  queens  that  may  be  ready  to  emerge,  as  well  as 
upon  those  in  the  embryo  state,  and  destroys  them  also ; 
consequently,  no  more  swarms  can  possibly  take  place 
that  season. 

If,  on  the  other  hand,  it  be  decided  that  other  swarms 
shall  issue,  then  all  other  young  queens  are  kept  con- 
fined as  long  as  possible ;  and  the  same  causes  that  drove 
off  the  old  queen,  may  also  force  her  successor  to  de- 
part ;  but  it  sometimes  happens,  that  half  a  dozen  young 
queens  will  mature  about  the  same  time,  which  are  dif- 
ficult to  be  kept  in  confinement,  in  which  case,  they 
are  guarded  by  the  workers,  and  at  the  proper  time, 
some  one  of  them  gives  the  notice  to  swarm,  and  seve- 
ral queens  rush  out  in  the  general  melee.  This  ac- 
counts for  more  than  one  queen  being  sometimes  found 
in  a  swarm. 

A  permanent  stop  to  swarming  may  be  occasioned  by 
a  few  days  of  rainy  weather,  occurring  just  at  the  time 
when  a  family  ought  to  issue.  It  happens  thus ; — as  the 
young  sovereigns  increase  in  age  and  strength,  the  work- 
ers find  the  greatest  difficulty  to  restrain  them  in  their 
attempts  to  3estroy  each  other,  and  they  often  become 
wearied  out  by  the  delay  in  issuing,  when  the  weather 
is  long  unfavorable,  and  giving  up  their  royal  charge  to 
their  own  wrath  and  hatred,  it  is  not  long  before  all  are 
killed  save  one.  Here  I  would  remark,  that  nature  has 
so  wonderfully  ordered  the  attacks  that  queens  make  on 
each  other,  that  in  no  case  are  both  killed  in  the  same 


bee-keeper's  manual.  261 

combat ;  if  it  were  not  so,  many  families  of  bees  would 
be  liable  to  perish. 

The  season  of  swarming  is  a  season  of  peculiar  inte- 
rest to  the  apiarian.  It  is  at  this  season,  that  he  looks 
for  a  reward  of  his  labors,  in  the  increase  of  his  families 
of  bees.  Aside  from  the  profit  accruing  from  an  in- 
crease of  families,  there  is  an  interest — I  may,  perhaps, 
say  a  charm,  attending  the  issue  of  a  large  swarm  of 
bees,  to  the  apiarian  who  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the 
domestic  economy  of  this  insect. 

When  the  cry  of  "  hees  swarming,"  reaches  one's  ear, 
he  drops  all  and  runs  to  the  scene.  If  he  be  at  the  well 
with  a  bucket  of  water  half  way  to  the  top,  perhaps, 
down  it  goes,  with  many  a  hard  thump  against  the  stony 
sides,  and  away  he  goes.  If  he  be  in  the  field  at  the 
plow,  he  stops  his  team  when  the  sound  strikes  his  ear, 
throws  down  his  whip  and  is  off.  When  he  arrives  at 
the  scene,  he  beholds  the  heavens  darkened  with  a  re- 
volving mass  of  bees,  and  thousands  still  rushing  from 
the  hive !  Mark  the  slow  and  beautifully-undulating 
circles  described,  as  the  bees  hover  around  the  apiary, 
in  order  to  give  time  for  all  to  join  the  swarm  !  Now, 
a  portion  of  the  living  cloud  quickly  and  thickly  revolve 
around  yon  slender  branch,  where  a  few  bees  are  al- 
ready clustered !  Now  the  whole  mass,  as  by  magic, 
draw  closely  around,  and  settle  thick  and  fast.  The  far- 
extended  cloud  that  but  a  moment  before  seemed  to 
cover  the  area  of  an  acre,  now,  by  some  mysterious 
command,  whirl  in  the  space  of  a  few  feet,  preparatory 
to  clustering  in  a  solid  mass!     Now  all  are  clustered 


262  MINERS    AMERICAN 

save  a  few  straggling  bees,  that  seeem  to  be  undecided 
whether  to  join  the  emigrants  or  return  home.  There 
they  hang  in  the  form  of  an  inverted  cone,  with  their 
heads  up,  enough  to  fill  a  peck  measure. 

"What  are  they  hanging  there  for?"  says  a  bystander, 
who  has  never  seen  a  swarm  issue  before. 

'*  They  always  cluster  in  this  way,  sir,  preparatory  to 
taking  their  flight  to  the  forest,  or  such  places  as  they 
would  seek  for  a  home ;  provided,  that  we  should  not 
tender  them  one." 

"  Is  the  king-hee  among  'em  ?" 

"  There  is  no  king-bee,  but  a  qiieen-hee  is  among 
them,  without  doubt.  If  she  were  not,  they  would  not 
remain  so  quiet  as  you  perceive  them  to  be,  but  would 
be  seen  running  to  and  fro,  in  wild  consternation  ; 
and  when  satisfied  of  her  not  being  present,  they  would 
quickly  return  to  the  hive  whence  they  issued." 

"  But  how  can  they  know  whether  she  be  with  them 
or  not,  since  she  is  but  one  among  so  many  thousands." 

"  They  have  the  jjower  of  communicating  this  know- 
ledge, which  is  almost  instantaneous.  When  on  the 
wing,  a  certain  noise  produced  by  the  wings,  will  imme- 
diately bring  a  swarm,  extended  over  many  rods  of  space, 
to  a  focus,  where  the  queen  may  be.  When  in  a  clus- 
ter, or  in  the  hive,  her  presence  is  quickly  communi- 
cated from  one  to  another.  As  the  General-in-chief 
gives  the  word  of  command  to  his  aids,  from  whom  it 
rapidly  passes  down  the  lines,  until  the  whole  army 
knows  the  orders  of  their  commander,  so  is  a  knowledge 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  263 

of  the  presence  of  a  queen-bee  imparted  to  the  legions 
under  her  control." 

"  Why,  sir,  the  history  and  economy  of  the  bee  must 
be  quite  interesting.  I  always  supposed  it  was  a  dry 
subject.  Really,  I  should  like  to  hear  a  little  more  about 
the  wonderful  instinct  of  this  insect,  unless  you  fear  this 
swarm  will  depart  if  not  soon  hived."' 

"  With  pleasure,  sir.  I'll  just  put  up  this  canvas 
screen  to  keep  the  rays  of  the  sun  from  them,  since  they 
cannot  bear  an  intense  heat  in  such  a  situation,  and 
then  I'll  try  and  see  if  I  can  find  the  queen,  and  we  will 
see  what  effect  her  removal  will  have  upon  them,  if  I 
be  so  fortunate  as  to  find  her." 

"I'm  delighted,  sir,  at  the  prospect  of  seeing  her." 

"  I  think  I'll  find  her  with  the  feather  end  of  this  quill 
— don't  be  alarmed,  they  don't  sting  during  swarming- 
time,  unless  fretted  a  great  deal.  There  she  is !  I  have 
her  now, — I'll  throw  this  handkerchief  over  her  to  hide 
her  from  the  swarm,  or  they  will  follow  her  at  once." 

"  Let  me  have  one  look  at  her,  if  you  please. — How 
long  and  slender  she  is, — black  back,  and  yellow  unde) 
her  belly,  and — " 

"  There,  sir,  now  look  at  the  commotion  !  Do  you 
see  how  they  run  up  and  down  the  branch  in  every  di- 
rection, as  if  in  search  of  something.  Now  they  begin 
to  leave  it,  and  if  I  don't  return  the  queen,  they  will  all 
leave  soon. — I've  returned  her.     Now  mark  the  effect." 

"  They  keep  up  the  commotion,  and  the  buzz  of  their 
wings  yet." 

*■  They  will  be  calmed  soon.     Now  see  how  they  be- 


264 


MINER  S    AMERICAN 


gin  to  re-form !  They  are  aware  of  her  presence  now, 
sir.  A  few  minutes  more,  and  tranquilhty  will  be  re- 
stored.    Now  all  is  perfectly  quiet  again." 

"  I'm  astonished  !  I  had  some  important  business  in 
town  to-day,  but  I'll  put  it  off  until  to-morrow,  since  I 
should  like  to  see  you  hive  this  swarm.  I'm  determined 
to  purchase  the  first  swarm  of  bees  I  can  find,  and  I 
should  like  to  see  how  you  perform  the  operation  of 
hiving." 

"  John,  bring  a  clean  hive,  a  table,  blanket,  chair  and 
brush.  Nothing  can  give  me  greater  pleasure,  sir,  than 
to  entertain  my  friends  in  this  way." 

"  You  are  very  obliging,  sir." 


HIVING. 


"  In  the  first  place,  I  take  a  perfectly  clean  hive,  and 
rub  a  very  little  honey  around  the  inside,  with  a  small 
sponge  that  I  keep  for  that  purpose.  I  am  not  positive 
IS  it  does  any  good,  yet  I  am  sure  that  it  does  no  harm, 


bee-keeper's  manual.  265 

and  since  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose,  that  the  bees  will 
like  it,  I  continue  in  the  practice.  Various  other  things 
are  recommended  to  dress  hives  with,  but  I  pay  no  at- 
tention to  them,  since  I  never  lost  a  swarm  on  my  plan, 
and  I  could  not  have  done  better  if  I  had  pursued  other 
people's  plans.  The  great  object  is  to  have  clean,  sweet 
hives.  Dressing  them  with  the  leaves  of  certain  trees, 
or  of  herbs,  is  entirely  useless.  If  the  swarm  be  clus- 
tered within  six  or  eight  feet  from  the  ground,  which  is 
generally  the  case,  where  many  low  trees  and  shrubs 
exist,  I  place  my  table  under  them  and  spread  a  blanket 
over  it,  I  then  place  my  hive  in, such  position,  that  the 
bees  may  be  made  to  fall  directly  before  it,  and  within 
a  few  inches  of  it.  I  then  raise  the  front  of  the  hive 
with  a  block  of  wood,  as  you  perceive,  so  as  to  give  the 
greatest  facility  for  the  bees  to  enter  rapidly.  Having 
done  this,  and  being  protected  by  my  bee-dress,  I  take  a 
chair  to  stand  on,  and  with  a  brush,  such  as  this,  I  am 
prepared  for  the  operation.  I  will  now  show  you  how 
I  do  it.  With  one  hand  hold  of  the  branch,  and  the 
brush  in  the  other,  I  give  a  sudden  jar  to  the  limb,  and 
down  they  fall  before  the  hive ;  and  the  small  portion 
that  adhere  to  the  branch  after  jarring  it,  I  brush  off,  and 
all  that  take  wing  again,  follow  their  companions  below. 
There,  they  are  all  on  the  table  now,  except  a  few  hun- 
dred, that  will  soon  settle  with  them  in  front  of  the 
hive." 

"That  was  done  very  dextrously.     Now  they  are 
running  into  the  hive,  I  perceive,  except  on  this  side, 
12 


266  MINERS    AMERICAN 

where  a  portion   are  clustering  on  the  outside  of  it. 
That  is  not  right,  is  it,  sir?" 

•■'  I'll  brush  them  off,  and  with  the  feather  end  of  this 
quill,  I'll  soon  make  them  disappear." 

"Ha!  ha!  now  they  scamper — now  they  go  in.  Do 
you  leave  the  hive  here,  or  remove  it  at  once  to  the 
stand  ?" 

"  It  is  not  a  matter  of  importance,  whether  it  be  re 
moved  as  soon  as  the  bees  become  quiet,  or  left  here 
until  evening.  As  a  general  rule,  all  swarms  that  come 
off  in  the  morning  should  be  removed  to  the  stand  as 
soon  as  they  become  quietly  hived,  and  swarms  that 
issue  in  the  afternoon,  may  be  left  until  evening  before 
removing  them.  The  reason  for  this  course  is,  that  a 
swarm  issuing  in  the  morning,  will  become  so  accus- 
tomed to  the  locality  when  the  hive  is  left  unremoved, 
that  more  bees  are  lost  the  next  day,  when  its  situation 
is  changed,  than  would  be,  if  the  removal  took  place  im- 
mediately. I  do  not  w^ish  you  to  understand  me,  that 
any  bees  are  actually  losL  in  either  case,  since  they  re- 
turn to  the  parent  hive,  when  they  cannot  find  their 
new  tenement." 

"  I  understand  you,  sir,  perfectly  well,  and  I  feel  under 
obligations  to  you  for  thus  explaining  the  manner  of 
hiving,  &c.     Good  morning,  sir." 

So  much  of  the  features  pertaining  to  swarming,  I 
have  put  into  the  words  of  others,  in  the  form  of  a  social 
dialogue. 

The  foregoing  cut,  as  the  reader  perceives,  represents 
the  actual  operation  of  hiving  a  swarm  of  bees,  as  I  am 


»         bee-keeper's  manual.  267 

accustomed  to  perform  it,  when  the  swarm  does  not 
cluster  too  high. 

A  blanket  is  necessary  to  spread  over  the  table  to 
ease  the  fall  of  the  bees  upon  it.  When  they  cluster  so 
high  as  to  require  a  fall  of  five  or  six  feet,  I  put  the 
blanket  on  doubled,  or  throw  a  bag  over  the  table,  and 
then  put  the  blanket  or  table  cover  over  it. 

Some  apiarians  first  brush  or  shake  the  bees  off  the 
branch  into  the  hive,  which  is  held  under  them  bottom 
upwards,  and  then  set  it  down  upon  a  table  with  one  or 
more  of  its  sides  raised  on  blocks  to  admit  such  bees  as 
are  out.  This  is  a  good  way  where  the  bees  do  not 
cluster  conveniently  for  shaking  or  brushing  off  before 
the  hive.  There  is  no  difficulty  in  making  the  bees 
enter  when  made  to  fall  on  a  table  before  it.  They  will 
run  towards  a  hive  when  several  feet  from  it,  on  their 
seeing  an  opening  for  them. 

HIVER. 

When  bees  cluster  upon  the  branches  of  trees,  too 
high  to  admit  of  being  hived  in  the  foregoing  way,  a 
temporary  hiver  may  be  used  to  advantage.  It  is  made 
by  taking  three  light,  thin  boards  about  ten  inches  wide, 
and  18  inches  long,  and  nailing  them  together  in  the 
form  of  a  triangle,  with  both  ends  left  open,  and  sundry 
auger  holes  bored  through  the  sides,  near  the  centre. 
An  iron  strip  is  then  secured  to  it,  with  arms  extending 
along  two  of  its  sides,  and  a  short  shank  projecting, 
which  is  made  fast  to  a  pole.  This  hiver  may  be  raised 
by  the  means  of  the  pole  to  any  usual  height  that  bees 


268  MINER  S    AMERICAN  « 

cluster,  and  by  the  use  of  additional  joints  to  the  handle, 
secured  with  ferrules,  it  may  be  raised  to  any  reasonable 
height.  It  will  be  necessary  to  make  the  hiver  as  light 
as  possible,  in  order  to  handle  it  conveniently.  All  that 
is  to  be  done  when  bees  cluster  beyond  the  reach  of 
ordinary  means,  is  to  place  the  hiver  over  them,  with 
some  of  the  holes  in  contact  with  them,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  they  v^^ill  enter  it,  when  it  may  be  taken  down, 
and  the  bees  shaken  out  on  a  table  in  front  of  a  hive 
intended  as  a  permanent  residence,  with  one  side  raised 
about  an  inch,  and  they  will  enter  speedily. 

CLUSTERING  ON  THE  OUTSIDE  OF  THE   HIVE. 

It  often  happens  that  a  swarm  is  inclined  to  cluster 
on  the  outside  of  the  hive,  rather  than  enter  immedi- 
ately. This  is  caused  by  the  heat  being  insupportable 
within,  or  from  the  queen  being  outside.  In  the  latter 
case,  nothing  will  cause  the  family  to  remain  quietly 
inside  until  the  queen  is  made  to  enter.  The  remedy 
is  to  brush  the  bees  off  gently,  either  with  a  soft  brush 
or  the  feather  end  of  a  quill,  and  give  them  every  faci- 
lity for  entering,  and  also  as  great  a  circulation  of  air 
under  the  hive  as  possible,  by  raising  it  on  blocks. 
Every  precaution  should  be  tqijien  to  keep  the  hive  in 
the  shade. 

RINGING  OF  BELLS,  AND  OTHER  NOISES  USELESS. 

When  a  swarm  issues,  no  jingling  of  bells,  or  the 
rattling  of  tin  pans  should  be  indulged  in,  in  the  least. 
This  custom  originated   from   the  cottagers  of  Europe, 


bee-keeper's  manual.  269 

residing  in  communities  making  a  practice  of  ringing 
bells,  or  thumping  on  tin  pans  when  a  swarm  of  bees 
issued,  so  as  to  know  who  the  owner  was ;  since  swarms 
issuing  from  the  premises  of  one  cottager  would  fre- 
quently cluster  on  the  grounds  of  another. 

SWARMING  PREVENTED  BY  EXTRA  ROOM. 

The  apiarian  may  at  any  time  prevent  swarming,  by 
affording  the  bees  extra  room  below  them.  For  in- 
stance, take  a  hive  filled  with  bees,  and  nearly  ready  to 
throw  off  a  swarm,  and  place  it  over  another  hive  of  the 
same  diameter,  with  a  passage-way  through  it,  and  the 
bees  will  soon  destroy  their  young  sovereigns  in  the 
embryo  state,  and  no  swarming  will  take  place. 

It  is  sometimes  advantageous  to  thus  prevent  the  issue 
of  swarm?;,  v.hen  the  owner  does  not  wish  any  further 
increase  in  the  number  of  his  families,  as  the  larger  the 
body  of  bees  together,  the  greater  is  the  quantity  of 
surplus  honey  produced;  yet  this  argument  does  not 
apply  to  increasing  the  size  of  hives,  except  temporally 
by  nadiring  or  supering. 

Boxes  may  be  constructed  of  half  the  usual  depth  of 
hives,  with  both  ends  open ;  and  in  the  month  of  May, 
before  swarming,  one  of  them  may  be  placed  under  the 
hive,  where  swarming  is  to  be  prevented.  These  boxes 
should  be  made  of  the  same  dimensions  of  the  hive,  so 
as  to  make  a  close  joint  where  they  come  in  contact. 
In  the  fall,  a  wire  may  be  drawn  through  between  the 
connection  and  sever  the  combs,  and  the  bees  in  the 
lower  section  will  return,  and  the  family  will  be  very 


270  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

populous,  and  probably  highly  prosperous ;  yet  but  few 
more  bees  will  exist  in  February,  and  March  following, 
than  would  exist,  if  a  swarm  were  suffered  to  issue ;  but 
the  labors  of  the  extra  number  of  bees  existing  during 
the  summer,  are  not  lost,  as  the  honey  and  wax  in  the 
nadir  will  testify. 

It  is  very  important  to  know  how  far  supering,  or 
placing  boxes  over  the  hives,  will  prevent  swarming.  I 
have  never  found  supers  eight  inches  deep  to  prevent 
swarming  with  me ;  neither  have  I  found  the  boxes  in 
chamber-hives,  to  prevent  it  in  the  least.  I  always  let 
the  bees  into  the  supers  in  April,  and  1  get  my  regular 
swarms.  If  supers  should  be  placed  on  of  the  full  size 
of  the  hive,  swarming  would  be  likely  to  be  prevented ; 
but  there  is  nothing  certain  to  prevent  an  issue  but  na- 
diring,  or  collateral  hiving,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  throw 
two  hives  into  one,  or  nearly  so,  from  the  capacity  of 
the  openings  between  them. 

STRONG  FAMILIES  ALWAYS  RECOMMENDED. 

I  cannot  too  deeply  impress  on  the  bee-keeper's  mind, 
the  necessity  of  keeping  very  strong  families  in  all 
cases,  if  possible.  I  will  illustrate  this  point,  as  follows : 
a  family  of  15,000  bees  is  supposed  to  occupy  a  hive 
one  foot  square  in  the  clear,  or  inside.  That  family 
will,  if  left  undivided,  lay  up  sufficient  honey  in  one 
season,  to  carry  them  safely  through  the  winter,  and 
have  forty  pounds  surplus  that  goes  as  profit  to  their 
owner.  Now,  what  would  be  the  result  if  they  should 
be  divided  into  four  families ;  each  with  a  queen  at  its 


bee-keeper's  manual.  271 

head,  and  placed  in  hives  of  the  same  size  of  the  orig- 
inal one  ?  There  would  not  be  a  drop  of  surplus  honey- 
stored  up  by  either  family,  and  in  all  probability,  they 
would  not  be  able  to  exist  through  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber, unless  fed,  much  less  through  the  winter.  It  is  on 
the  principle  that  "  in  unity  there  is  strength."  Four 
rods  when  together  may  not  be  broken,  but  take  each 
separately,  and  the  whole  are  easily  rent  asunder.  The 
philosophy  of  the  failure  of  four  families  of  3,750  bees 
each,  to  gather  as  much  honey  as  one  family  of  15,000, 
lies  here  : — it  requires  nearly  as  many  bees  to  remain 
constantly  at  home,  in  each  of  the  four  hives,  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  up  that  degree  of  heat  that  is  neces- 
sary within,  that  it  does  in  the  hive  where  the  whole 
15,000  reside  ;  consequently,  it  follows,  that  in  one  case, 
perhaps,  10,000  bees  would  be  constantly  on  the  wing, 
and  in  the  other  case  of  the  four  separate  families,  not 
over  1,250  could  be  spared  from  each,  making  only  5,000 
bees  as  the  actual  number  of  gatherers  employed  by  the 
whole  of  them." 

In  consequence  of  this  state  of  things,  more  bees  are 
lost,  by  a  desire  to  increase  our  families  too  rapidly,  than 
from  any  other  particular  cause.  It  is  truly  said,  "  that 
experience  is  the  best  schoolmaster ;"  and  I  have  paid 
pretty  dearly  for  my  knowledge.  Feeling  anxious,  one 
season,  to  increase  the  number  of  my  families,  to  the 
greatest  possible  extent,  I  divided  my  largest  swarms, 
and  some  families  that  did  not  swarm  but  once,  I  drove 
out,  and  made  two  families,  where  but  one  existed  before. 
This  course  well-nigh  ruined  my  whole  apiary ;  and  I 


272  miner's     AMERICAN 

would  briefly  say,  always  be  on  the  safe  side  in  regard 
to  the  strength  of  your  swarms,  and  never  grieve  when 
but  one  issues  in  a  season.  I  assure  you,  that  one  large 
swarm  is  enough.  Never  think  of  dividing  them,  unless 
you  are  positive  that  they  contain  two  or  more  issues. 
There  is  not  much  danger  of  your  dividing  swarms  or 
families,  unless  you  have  had  experience  in  such  mat- 
ters.    I  will  illustrate  this  point  soon. 

DIFFERENT  SWARMS  APT  TO  CLUSTER  TOGETHER. 

When  different  swarms  issue  at  the  same  time,  they 
will  almost  invariably  cluster  on  the  same  branch.  This 
arises  from  an  instinctive  predominant  principle  in  bees 
to  congregate  in  as  large  families  as  possible.  It  is  not 
necessary  that  each  family  should  issue  at  the  same  in- 
stant; since  a  swarm  already  clustered,  will  be  followed 
by  a  swarm  sallying  forth  half  an  hour  later ;  and  another 
coming  forth  before  the  previous  two  are  hived,  will  be 
sure  to  mix  with  them.  In  extensive  apiaries,  there  is 
much  difficulty  attending  the  union  of  swarms  in  this 
way.  In  such  cases,  it  is  best  to  have  everything  at 
hand  ready,  and  hive  each  swarm  as  quickly  as  possible. 
When  the  weather  becomes  fine  after  a  rain,  and  it  is 
probable  that  several  swarms  will  issue  at  once,  it  is  ad- 
visable, when  a  swarm  commences  issuing,  to  sprinkle 
the  rest  of  the  hives  with  water,  from  a  watering-pot. 
This  will  keep  them  back  a  few  minutes,  until  you  can 
hive  the  one  already  clustered.  I  now  speak  of  very 
large  apiaries,  where  from  25  to  100  hives  exist.  Every 
precaution  should  be  taken,  to  keep  the  hives  that  have 


bee-keeper's  manual.  273 

just  received  the  swarms,  as  much  out  of  sight  as  pos- 
sible, as  it  frequently  happens,  that  a  swarm  will  follow 
another,  after  being  hived,  if  a  portion  of  the  bees  clus- 
ter outside,  where  they  may  be  seen. 

When  several  swarms  do  get  together,  making,  as  I 
have  known,  a  barrel  full  of  bees ;  and  perhaps  a  dozen 
different  swarms,  then  the  apiarian  is  in  no  very  envia- 
ble predicament.  I  heard  of  a  gentleman  whe  had  200 
hives  or  families,  and  when  they  came  out  and  clustered 
together  in  this  way,  he  hived  them  in  a  harrel,  and  in 
one  season  the  barrel  would  be  filled  with  combs,  and 
contain  several  hundred  pounds  of  honey. 

TIME  THAT  SWARMS  REMAIN  CLUSTERED. 

The  length  of  time  that  swarms  will  quietly  remain 
upon  the  bough  where  they  cluster,  if  not  hived,  is  a 
matter  of  importance  to  every  bee-keeper.  There  is  not 
that  necessity  for  hurrying,  as  if  one's  life  were  at  stake, 
as  some  people  imagine.  If  the  weather  be  unusually 
hot  and  sultry,  and  the  swarm  cluster  where  it  is  fully 
exposed  to  the  rays  of  the  sun,  and  it  be  between  the 
hours  of  eleven  and  two,  you  cannot  be  too  quick  in  se- 
curing them ;  but  if  they  issue  in  the  morning  or  in  the 
afternoon,  when  the  air  is  cool,  or  if  they  are  fully 
shaded,  let  the  time  be  when  it  may,  you  can  hive  them 
at  your  leisure.  I  had  two  swarms  issue,  some  few 
years  ago,  when  the  weather  was  not  oppressively  hot, 
under  the  following  circumstances : — I  had  occasion  to 
be  absent  from  home  at  a  period  when  no  one  was  on 
my  premises  who  could  hive  bees.  One  swarm  came 
12* 


274  miner's    AMERICAN 

out  about  10  o'clock,  and  the  other  about  11  o'clock. 
They  remained  quietly  clustered  until  half-past  3,  when 
a  most  violent  thunder-storm  arose.  The  wind  blew  a 
gale,  and  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents,  for  the  space 
of  an  hour.  At  5  o'clock,  I  returned,  and  found  both 
swarms  clustered  as  at  first,  and  not  a  bee  had  been  lost 
by  the  force  of  the  wind  and  rain.  This  case  is  a  fail 
criterion  of  what  may  generally  be  expected,  when 
swarms  are  left  unhived.  They  will  often  remain  24 
hours,  and  sometimes  they  will  adhere  to  the  branch 
where  they  cluster,  until  every  bee  perishes,  or  returns 
to  the  parent  hive.  From  my  own  experience,  I  am  led 
to  believe,  that  the  length  of  time  that  swarms  will  re- 
main where  they  cluster,  depends,  in  a  measure,  upon 
the  fact,  whether  a  general  supervision  be  extended  over 
them  by  the  owner ;  that  is,  whether  he  is  constant  in 
attending  to  the  little  duties  pertaining  to  the  apiary ; 
such  as  brushing  away  the  webs  of  insects,  keeping 
everything  in  order,  feeding  a  weak  swarm  here,  and 
attending  to  the  wants  of  a  family  there,  and  by  his  daily 
presence,  manifesting  to  the  bees,  that  they  are  not  left 
to  provide  wholly  for  themselves.  As  "  the  ox  knoweth 
his  owner  and  the  ass  his  master's  crib,"  so  is  the  little 
bee  sensible  of  the  fact,  that  a  hand  is  ever  ready  to  pro- 
vide for  her  necessities.  Though  you  cannot  change 
one  iota  of  her  natural  economy,  that  she  has  brought 
down  through  thousands  of  generations  since  the  crea- 
tion of  the  world ;  yet  if  you  but  extend  kindness  to  her 
— if  you  feed  her  when  famishing — if  you  remove  im- 
pediments to  her  prosperity,  that  she  cannot  perform, 


bee-keeper's  manlal.  275 

she  remembers  your  attention,  and  learns  to  place  her 
trust. in  you.  This  is  a  prominent  feature  of  every  being 
that  depends  on  man  for  protection.  It  is  an  attribute 
of  Him  who  created  all. 

The  mandate  went  forth  at  the  creation  of  the  world, 
"that  as  man  looketh  to  me,  and  I  extend  an  outstretched 
arm  over  him  ;  so  shall  every  Hving  thing  be  subjected 
unto  man,  knowing  that  he  provideth  for  them  in  the 
day  of  their  necessity."  Taking  this  view  of  the  case, 
it  is  not  unreasonable  to  suppose,  that  if  one  seldom  goes 
to  his  apiary,  and  pays  little  or  no  regar^l  to  the  wants 
of  his  bees,  they  will,  in  swarming,  have  no  idea  of  be- 
ing provided  with  a  tenement ;  and  consequently  will, 
perhaps,  take  to  the  forest  much  sooner  than  under 
other  circumstances.  I  have  been  led  to  this  conclusion, 
from  hearing  of  many  swarms  departing  to  the  woods, 
in  cases  where  I  knew  that  no  attention  was  paid  to  the 
wants  of  the  bees  generally ;  and  from  the  fact,  that 
during  the  many  years  that  I  have  kept  this  insect,  I 
never  had  an  instance  of  a  swarm  departing,  except  one 
that  clustered  on  the  sunny  side  of  a  tree,  where  the 
thermometer  was  about  140°  in  the  sun,  hot  enough  to 
roast  them ;  and  I  should  not  have  lost  this  one,  but  I 
was  not  present  until  half  an  hour  after  clustering,  and 
they  took  flight  just  as  I  arrived.  I  say  that  I  have  had 
but  one  instance,  I  have  had  two ;  the  other  was  a  case 
where  the  person  hiving  them,  used  salt  too  freely  in 
dressing  the  hive,  as  I  shall  narrate  hereafter. 


276 


MINER  S    AMERICAN 


THE  aUEEN  GENERALLY  ALIGHTS   FIRST. 

The  above  cut  represents  the  commencement  of  clus- 
tering. The  queen  generally  selects  the  branch  to  clus- 
ter on,  and  wherever  she  goes,  the  family  are  sure  to 
follow ;  sometimes,  however,  the  bees  cluster  while  she 
is  on  the  wing,  and  she  follows  the  swarm,  but  such 
cases  do  not  often  occur.  If  it  so  happen,  that  the 
queen  becomes  fatigued,  and  alights  on  the  ground  or  in 
some  place,  where  the  bees  cannot  readily  observe  her, 
they  will  cluster  without  her,  and  remain  a  few  minutes 
only,  when  every  bee  will  return  home  to  the  parent 
family.  Queens  are  often  forced  to  alight  before  a 
suitable  branch  is  selected  to  cluster  on,  in  consequence 
of  the  shortness  of  their  wings,  not  enabling  them  to  fly 
with  the  same  ease  as  their  subjects. 


NECESSITY  OF  PREPARATION    FOR    HIVING,  ETC. 

The  above  engraving  shows  how  the  apiarian  should 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  277 

be  prepared  to  hive  his  bees  without  delay,  when  he  can 
do  so ;  because  they  cannot  be  hived  too  soon,  and  you 
may  be  too  late.  Always  have  a  common  table  handy, 
and  a  blanket  or  an  old  table  cover,  where  you  can  lay 
your  hand  on  it,  at  a  moment's  notice.  A  brush  as  ap- 
pears in  the  apiarian's  hand,  in  the  cut,  should  also  be 
at  hand.  Your  hives  should  be  in  order,  and  perfectly 
clean,  and  always  a  few  more  of  them  than  you  may 
actually  require,  perhaps,  should  be  constructed.  Hives 
that  have  been  previously  used,  are  as  good  as  any,  if 
perfectly  clean.  Boiling  hot  water  should  be  freely  used 
in  cleaning  old  hives,  and  the  joints  well  drenched  to 
kill  the  ova  of  insects. 

Bees,  when  swarming,  are  quite  docile,  seldom  using 
their  stings,  unless  in  windy  weather,  when  fretted  a 
great  deal  by  the  branches  or  leaves  of  the  trees  flapping 
against  them.  The  person  on  the  right  hand  of  the  cut, 
who  is  defending  himself  from  their  attacks,  foolishly 
commenced  parrying  and  striking  at  a  stray  bee,  that 
came  around  his  ears  in  rather  a  menacing  attitude,  and 
by. so  doing,  he  brought  a  dozen  around  his  head,  breath- 
ing vengeance  for  the  afl^ront.  He  will  know  better 
next  time. 

Bees  are  very  particular  about  the  weather  when  they 
swarm ;  and  the  first  swarm  more  particularly,  as  the 
old  queen  goes  off"  then,  and  she  has  more  experience 
than  young  queens  in  such  things.  A  calm,  sunny  day 
is  chosen  for  migrating  generally.  If  a  storm  arise  at 
the  time  swarms  are  expected,  and  continue  one  or  two 
days,  or  longer,  the  first  fair  day  will  bring  them  out ; 


278  MINERS    AMERICAN 

provided  they  be  ready,  and  the  storm  has  not  continued 
so  long  as  to  break  up  their  arrangements,  as  before 
illustrated.  Some  writers  assert,  that  bees  never  swarm 
when  high  winds  prevail.  This  is  a  mistake.  They 
will  wait  for  pleasant,  mild  weather,  as  long  as  they  can, 
and  then  let  it  be  Windy  or  not  windy,  they  come  forth 
on  some  occasions.  During  the  month  of  June  last, 
(1848,)  I  had  a  swarm  issue  when  the  bees  were  almost 
blown  to  the  ground,  before  they  could  cluster.  There 
had  been  four  days  of  the  most  windy  weather  that  I 
ever  knew  at  that  season,  and  on  the  fifth  day,  while  the 
wind  was  still  rushing  past  like  a  gale,  this  swarm  issued. 

The  time  intervening  between  the  first  and  second 
swarm,  is  from  nine  to  fourteen  days,  but  generally 
about  the  ninth  day ;  between  the  second  and  third, 
seven  days ;  and  if  still  another  issue,  on  the  second  or 
third  day  thereafter. 

If  a  storm  arise  immediately  after  hiving  a  swarm, 
and  continue  long,  the  bees  must  be  fed.  A  piece  of 
empty  honey-comb  placed  under  the  hive,  and  filled  daily 
with  liquid  honey,  or  syrup  made  of  sugar  will  answer 
the  purpose.  The  bees,  in  such  a  case,  must  be  con- 
fined, so  as  to  exclude  their  neighbors,  as  honey  is 
quickly  scented ;  much  sooner  than  sugar  made  into  a 
syrup. 

SYMPTOMS  OF  SWARMING. 

No  positive  symptoms  showing  when  a  swarm  will 
actually  issue,  can  be  given.  Huber  has  had  a  great 
deal  to  say  in  regard  to  what  he  terms  ''piping,"  as 


bee-keeper's  manual.  279 

being  a  symptom  showing  when  a  family  will  sally  out ; 
but  this  indication  is  not  to  be  depended  on,  from  the 
fact,  that  not  one  bee-keeper  in  ten,  will  ever  be  able  to 
distinguish  this  sound,  amid  the  hum  of  a  populous 
family  in  warm  weather. 

Piping,  as  it  is  called,  is  simply  the  notes  of  the  young 
queens,  that  are  held  prisoners  by  the  workers,  as  before 
described,  manifesting  their  desire  to  obtain  their  free- 
dom, and  the  noise  emitted  sounds  somewhat  like  peep, 
peep  ;  and  when  such  a  sound  is  heard  on  a  calm  even- 
ing by  applying  the  ear  close  to  the  hive,  and  in  actual 
contact  therewith,  it  signifies  that  a  swarm  will  issue 
soon,  if  the  weather  be  favorable. 

The  only  general  criterion  by  which  we  can  judge 
whether  a  swarm  will  soon  issue,  is  from  the  following 
circumstances.  Viz : — 

If  the  hive  be  full  of  combs,  and  the  bees  find  diffi- 
culty in  getting  into  it  at  evening,  a  swarm  may  be  soon 
expected,  any  time  after  the  15th  of  May.  If  large 
clusters  of  bees  hang  out  at  evening,  then  the  symptom 
of  swarming  is  still  stronger.  If  no  swarms  have  come 
out  on  the  1st  of  June,  and  the  aforesaid  symptoms  ex- 
ist, it  is  almost  morally  certain  that  one  will  depart  very 
soon,  unless  the  w^eather  be  cold,  damp  or  windy.  When 
a  swarm  has  issued,  clustering  out  indicates  that  another 
family  will  take  their  exit,  but  not  much  dependence  is 
to  be  placed  upon  the  apparent  populous  state  of  the 
stock,  for  any  issue  except  the  first.  If  the  weather  be 
very  warm,  the  apiarian  will  be  liable  to  be  greatly  de- 
ceived in  regard  to  the  actual  population  of  his  parent 


280  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

hives,  and  he  will  think  it  a  pity,  perhaps,  that  rnore 
swarms  are  not  sent  out,  when,  if  such  a  result  were  to 
take  place,  it  would  be  the  ruin  of  his  apiary,  to  a  great 
extent. 

There  are  instances,  when  all  signs  irf  regard  to 
swarming,  may  fail.  Every  bee-keeper,  or  at  least, 
many,  have  watched  their  hives  with  a  deep  interest, 
during  the  swarming  season,  wondering  what  keeps  their 
bees,  as  it  were,  spell-bound  to  their  tenements.  Large 
clusters  will  hang  out,  night  and  day,  and  the  swarming 
season  will  pass  away,  and  still  there  they  hang,  appa- 
rently without  doing  any  labor,  save  an  occasional  de- 
parture to  the  fields  to  supply  the  wants  of  nature. 
These  things  will  often  occur,  and  the  reason  why  no 
swarms  issue  is,  that  a  failure  has  taken  place  in  the 
production  of  young  queens,  or  when* produced,  they 
have  been  slain  from  some  cause,  as  T  have  already  ex- 
plained. The  only  alternative  with  such  over-populous 
families,  is  to  form  an  artificial  swarm,  or  suffer  them 
to  remain  as  they  are.  When  bees  cluster  in  large  in- 
verted cones  on  the  under  side  of  the  bottom-board,  it 
is  well  to  place  a  few  handfuls  of  grass  directly  under 
them,  as  they  often  fall  to  the  ground  in  the  night,  or 
during  the  prevalence  of  a  storm. 

SEASON  OF  SWARMING. 

In  the  latitude  of  New  York,  the  usual  season  of 
swarming  is  from  the  15th  of  May,  to  the  10th  of  June, 
in  higher  latitudes,  for  instance,  that  of  Boston,  it  is  a 
few  days  later,  perhaps ;  and  in  more  sputhern  districts 


bee-keeper's  manual.  281 

it  is  somewhat  earlier.  Occasional  swarms  may  issue 
in  April,  and  also  as  late  as  July,  and  even  in  October, 
instances  are  found  of  such  a  result.  When  a  swarm 
issues  in  October,  it  embraces  the  whole  family ;  and  it 
may,  perhaps,  be  more  properly  a  desertion.  The  two 
instances  of  this  nature,  that  occurred  in  my  own  apiarj, 
and  before  alluded  to,  came  out  in  the  month  of  October, 
leaving  both  honey  and  larvae  behind.  Powerful,*  indeed, 
must  be  the  cause  that  forces  a  family  of  bees  to  leave 
their  domicil  at  such  a  period,  and  depart  on  the  wing 
to  an  uncertain  destiny.  The  bee  has  the  same  natui'al 
attachment  for  its  young  that  pervades  all  animate 
nature.  When  a  piece  of  brood-comb  is  extracted  con- 
taining larvae,  the  bees  adhere  to  it  with  the  utmost  te- 
nacity ;  and  the  cause  of  such  an  unfeeling,  and  appa- 
rently uncalled-for  desertion,  may  appear  strange  to  one 
not  having  a  tangible  idea  of  the  true  reason.  My  opin- 
ion on  this  question  is,  that  the  hives  being  but  partially 
filled  with  combs,  not  over  one-quarter  part,  and  there 
not  being  over  one-tenth  the  number  of  bees  that  con- 
stitute a  populous  family,  the  idea  of  wintering  in  a  place 
where  no  warmth  could  be  generated  by  them,  and  hav- 
ing had  a  foretaste  of  what  was  to  come,  in  a  few 
cold  days  previous  to  their  departure,  with  the  en- 
trance all  around  the  hives  open  as  in  summer,  they  fore- 
saw that  death  must  ensue  if  they  thus  remained,  and 
having,  probably,  sent  out  an  embassy  to  find  some  hol- 
low tree  in  which  they  would  be  less  exposed  to  the 
rigors  of  the  weather,  they  departed.  The  reader  may 
recollect,  that  I  stated,  in  a  previous  allusion  to  this 


282 


MINER  S    AMERICAN 


singular  desertion,  that  I  succeeded  in  hiving  both 
swarms ;  and  in  a  few  days  they  rushed  out  again,  and 
I  was  unable  to  stop  them.  Here  is  a  cut  representing 
a  swarm  taking  a  flight  to  the  forest,  high  above  the 
trees. 


When  bees  are  determined  to  seek  a  home  for  them- 
selves, they  revolve  in  a  mass,  gradually  getting  higher 
and  higher,  until  the  coast  is  clear,  and  then  their  flight 
is  rapid ;  yet  sometimes  they  may  be  followed  for  half  a 
mile.  The  best  remedy  for  bringing  them  down  is,  to 
throw  fine  sand  or  water  among  them.  When  one  of 
the  swarms  issued,  before  spoken  of,  I  seized  a  pail  of 
water  and  a  dipper,  and  I  made  the  water  fly  among 
them  like  a  real  shower.  Before  I  had  used  the  first 
pail  of  water,  they  had  got  some  twenty  rods  from  the 
apiary.  In  the  mean  time  I  sent  for  more  water,  and  I 
at  last  succeeded  in  bringing  them  to  cluster  on  the 
branch  of  a  cherry  tree,  about  twenty  feet  from  the 


bee-keeper's  manual.  283 

ground.  Being  called  away  for  a  short  time,  I  suffered 
them  to  remain,  and  when  I  returned  they  were  gone, 
and  to  my  satisfaction  ;  since  my  only  motive  in  stopping 
them  was,  to  experiment  on  the  application  of  water  in 
such  cases. 

In  regard  to  the  actual  danger  of  the  aforesaid  two 
swarms  perishing,  had  they  remained  in  the  original 
hive,  I  would  observe,  that  they  were  the  smallest 
swarms  that  I  ever  had ;  consequently,  I  am  not  able 
to  say  positively,  whether  they  would  have  survived 
through  the  winter  or  not.  I  have  wintered  swarms 
that  did  not  contain  over  a  quart  of  bees  in  December, 
with  perfect  security,  and  I  am  inclined  to  believe,  that 
had  I  lowered  down  the  hives,  and  allowed  but  a  single 
place  of  entrance,  and  had  fed  them  freely,  they  would 
have  lived  through  the  winter.  The  two  swarms  alluded 
to,  would  not  probably  have  made  more  than  about  a  pint 
in  bulk,  if  left  until  December  or  January.  There  was 
about  a  quart  in  each  when  they  departed. 

SWARMS  CONSIST  OF  BEES  OF  ALL  AGES. 

The  question  has  often  been  asked  me,  if  swarms  are 
not  composed  entirely  of  young  bees  ?  My  answer  is, 
that  they  contain  bees  of  every  age,  from  the  old  bee  of  the 
season  previous,  coming  into  existence  through  the  sum- 
mer and  fall  months,  down  to  the  young  bee  that  nevei 
before  ventured  a  rod  from  the  hive.  There  appears  to 
be  no  discrimination  on  the  point  of  age.  A  promiscu- 
ous sally  takes  place,  and  the  majority  are  young  bees, 


284  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

as  a  matter  of  course,  since  four  fold  the  number  of  old 
ones  existing,  are  produced  every  spring. 

SWARMS  ISSUING  HAVE   NO  HABITATION  SELECTED. 

Much  has  been  said  in  regard  to  bees  selecting  a  habi- 
tation before  issuing  from  the  hive.  It  is  supposed  by 
many  persons,  that  previous  to  a  swarm  issuing,  an  em- 
bassy is  sent  to  the  forest  to  select  some  hollow  tree  or 
other  tenement  in  which  to  reside.  That  such  cases 
sometimes  do  take  place,  I  have  no  doubt,  but  that  a 
selection  is  made  in  every  case,  is  not  a  fact.  I  think 
that  the  attention  paid  to  the  wants  of  the  bees  by  their 
owner,  as  before  alluded  to,  has  something  to  do  with 
this  matter;  since  it  appears  that  they  who  pay  no  re- 
gard to  their  bees,  at  any  season,  lose  swarms  very  fre- 
quently, while  they  who  are  constantly  paying  the  little 
attentions  to  them  that  good  management  demands, 
seldom  lose  any. 

I  have  often  observed  single  bees,  during  the  season 
of  swarming,  entering  the  knot  holes  of  my  stable,  sing- 
ing a  merry  song,  and  carefully  examining  them  for  no 
other  purpose,  I  presume,  than  to  find  a  domicil  for  some 
swarm  soon  to  issue.  It  appears  natural  in  the  bee  to 
send  out  scouts  in  this  manner,  and  where  a  forest  is 
very  near,  filled  with  hollow,  decayed  trees,  the  securing 
of  swarms  is  attended  with  much  more  trouble  than  in 
other  situations.  It  often  happens,  that  a  hole  in  some 
old  building  is  secured  by  them  for  a  tenement.  A  lady 
of  my  acquaintance,  who  is  very  fond  of  attending  to 
bees,  informs  me  that  on  a  certain  occasion,  a  swarm 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  285 

issued  from  her  apiary,  and  without  clustering,  pro- 
ceeded slowly  across  the  fields  to  the  house  of  a  neigh- 
bor, about  half  a  mile  off.  Their  progress  was  so  slow, 
that  she  was  able  to  follow  them  all  the  distance,  with- 
out losing  sight  of  them.  They  entered  the  house  at 
an  aperture  under  the  roof.  She  returned  home,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  another  swarm  issued,  and  took  the 
same  course  without  clustering ;  and  she  again  followed 
after  them,  and  just  as  she  arrived,  the  last  of  the  latter 
truant  swarm  were  entering  the  same  aperture  where 
the  first  swarm  entered.  This  is  rather  a  singular  case, 
since  it  is  very  rare  to  have  swarms  issue  and  depart 
without  clustering.  Clustering  seems  to  be  necessary, 
in  order  to  congregate  the  whole  family  prior  to  the 
journey,  when  a  flight  is  contemplated.  Some  apiarians 
have  recommended  decoy  hives  ;  that  is,  empty  hives 
placed  about  the  apiary,  in  which  it  is  supposed  swarms 
may  enter.  I  have  tried  this  experiment,  but  have 
never  found  it  to  succeed. 

BEES  COMMUNICATE  ON  THE  WING. 

While  bees  are  swarming,  they  have  a  peculiar  power 
of  imparting  information  from  one  to  another,  while  on 
the  wing.  It  is  this  power  that  calls,  at  a  moment's 
notice,  the  bees  that  cover  many  rods  area  to  a  focus, 
when  it  is  decided  to  cluster.  I  had  a  singular  circum- 
stance occur,  the  last  season,  of  this  nature.  I  had  seve- 
ral swarms  issue  and  cluster  on  the  same  branch,  at  the 
same  time.  I  divided  them  in  three  parts,  and  hived 
them  separately,  thinking  that  if  I  should  happen  to  get 


286  miner's    AMERICAN 

a  queen  in  each,  it  would  save  all  further  trouble.  I 
placed  the  hives  in  different  situations,  and  in  the  course 
of  a  few  hours  I  found  the  whole  together  again.  I  then 
took  a  small  swarm  that  issued  the  day  previous,  and 
placed  it  where  the  hive  stood  that  contained  the  three 
swarms,  which  was  filled  inside  and  covered  outside 
with  a  perfect  sheet  of  bees,  and  as  quickly  as  possible, 
I  shook  out  about  half  of  its  contents  alongside  of  that 
containing  the  small  swarm,  and  then  I  ran  with  the 
hive  thus  emptied  of  half  its  contents,  and  set  it  in  the 
place  where  I  took  the  other  from.  My  object  was  to 
force  a  division  in  some  manner,  if  possible.  I  remained 
a  few  minutes  watching  the  result.  Presently  the  bees 
that  had  been  shaken  down  at  the  side  of  the  hive, 
commenced  rising  on  the  wing,  and  mixing  with  a  small 
part  of  the  other  portion  of  the  joint  families,  that  hov- 
ered in  the  air,  and  soon  a  trail  was  formed  from  one 
hive  to  the  other,  and  in  fifteen  minutes,  every  bee  was 
at  the  hive  in  the  new  situation,  some  rods  off;  the 
knowledge  of  its  position  having  been  communicated 
from  one  to  another,  on  the  wing.  It  is  only  in  cases 
of  large  numbers  of  bees  being  on  the  v/ing  at  the  same 
time,  that  a  communication  can  be  effected  by  them. 

PROPER  MODE  OF  SEPARATING  SWARMS. 

The  foregoing  experiment  was  out  of  the  regular  order 
of  my  usual  course,  in  effecting  a  division  of  swarms; 
yet  such  a  separation,  or  rather  an  equalization  of  fami- 
lies may  be  made.  Two  swarms,  the  one  very  large 
and  the  other  very  small,  may  be  managed  thus ; — at 


bee-kkeper's  manual.  287 

evening,  when  the  bees  are  all  in,  and  quiet,  take  the 
large  family  from  its  position,  and  supply  its  place  by 
the  small  one,  at  the  same  time,  causing  a  portion  of  the 
large  one  to  fall  alongside  of  the  hive  containing  the 
small  swarm.  The  bees  will  readily  enter,  and  join  the 
family  within.  The  hive  containing  the  large  ,swai*m 
should  be  placed  in  the  position  that  the  other  family 
occupied.  To  effect  such  results,  it  may  sometimes  be 
necessary  to  perform  the  operation  of  mixing  the  bees 
on  a  blanket,  spread  on  the  ground.  One  hive  may  be 
be  set  down,  with  one  side  raised  half  an  inch,  and  the 
bees  from  the  other  falling  near  it,  will  enter  at  once. 
The  time  to  effect  this  equalization  should  be  soon  after 
sunset,  and  neither  swarm  should  have  issued  beyond  a 
day  or  two  previous. 

During  the  next  two  days,  still  larger  numbers  from 
the  large  family,  will  gather  to  the  small  one ;  since  they 
go  out  to  the  fields  from  the  new  situation,  and  return 
to  the  old  one.  The  object  of  forcing  out  a  portion  at 
once,  is  to  mix  with  the  other  familj",  and  partially  de- 
stroy the  peculiar  scent  by  which  bees  from  one  swarm 
recognize  those  of  another.  It  is  not  advisable  to  force 
out  many,  as  a  very  large  portion  entering  so  as  to 
outnumber  those  ah'eady  there,  might  cause  trouble 
with  the  queen,  as  a  strange  queen  coming  suddenly 
into  the  midst  of  a  great  number  of  bees,  not  of  her  own 
family,  is  at  once  seized  by  them,  and  held  so  close  a 
prisoner,  that  suffocation  is  liable  to  ensue.  I  do  not 
recommend  this  way  of  separation  of  swarms,  unless  it 
be  in  cases  where  one  can  well  spare  a  large  portion  of 


28B  miner's     AMERICAN 

its  numbers,  and  the  other  cannot  possibly  thrive  with- 
out an  accession  to  its  strength. 

The  true  and  proper  way  is  by  adopting  the  princi- 
ples of  artificial  swarming,  as  I  shall  soon  explain.  It 
simply  consists  in  attaching  a  piece  of  brood-comb  con- 
taining larva?,  in  two  or  more  hives,  according  to  the 
number  of  families  that  may  be  desired  to  make,  and 
then  dividing  the  bees,  placing  them  in  .the  hives  with 
the  brood-combs,  and  if  no  queens  happen  to  be  among 
them,  they  can  make  them,  as  I  have  before  stated.  If 
the  division  take  place  on  the  day  of  swarming,  brood- 
combs  should  be  placed  in  each  hive ;  but  if  left  until 
three  or  four  days  after  being  hived,  they  should  be 
placed  in  the  empty  hive  only,  since  the  full  one  would 
probably,  already  contain  combs  and  eggs ;  and  there 
would  be  no  necessity  of  disturbing  the  queen  pertain- 
ing to  it.  The  manner  of  division  in  this  latter  case  is 
tiius : — at  any  time  of  day,  a  small  portion  of  bees  should 
be  gently  shook  out  of  the  hive  containing  a  double 
family,  in  such  a  position,  that  they  will  enter  the  empty 
hive,  which  is  to  be  placed  in  the  full  one's  position ; 
"then  carry  the  full  one  to  a  new  situation,  not  less  than 
ten  feet  off,  and  during  the  two  succeeding  days,  the 
empty  hive  will  gain  strength  as  before  described,  until 
a  respectable  family  accumulates. 

UNION   OF  SWARMS. 

A  union  of  two  or  more  small  swarms  may  be  effected 
on  the  day  of  swarming,  without  any  trouble.  All  that 
is  to  be  done  is,  to  make  one  mass  of  them,  and   the 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAT-. 


289 


extra  queens  will  soon  be  slain,  and  the  bees  will  work 
as  one  family.  A  union  may  be  effected  in  this  man- 
ner, at  any  time  within  a  week  after  hiving  the  bees,  but 
there  is  this  difference  attending  it ;  one  of  the  hives  is 
to  be  removed,  of  course,  and  during  the  next  two  or 
three  days,  a  large  portion  of  the  swarm  that  had  be- 
come accustomed  to  the  place  where  the  removed  or 
emptied  hive  stood,  will  return  to  that  place,  as  they 
sally  forth  to  the  fields  from  their  new  domicil,  and  will 
be  lost. 


BEES  LIABLE  TO  CLUSTER  ON  THE  APIARIAN. 

The  above  cut  represents  a  servant  of  mine,  with  a 
gwarm  of  bees  clustering  on  his  neck  and  back.  Per- 
haps the  reader  may  think  that  tjiis  comical  scene  is  but 
visionary ;  yet  I  would  assure  you,  dear  reader,  that 
such  things  do  actually  occur ;  and  every  bee-keeper  is 


290  MIXERS    A.MERICAN 

liable  to  be  placed    in    the  same  unenviable  predica- 
ment. 

The  queen,  ns  I  before  stated,  is  sometimes  quite 
heavy  and  unable  to  fly,  and  it  may  happen  that  in  case 
of  not  meeting  a  proper  shrub  or  branch  to  alight  on, 
she  will  perch  on  the  first  thing  that  may  come  in  her 
way ;  and  if  she  alight  on  any  part  of  the  person  in  at- 
tendance, the  whole  swarm  will  follow  so  speedily,  that 
there  is  no  help — no  evading  it.  All  that  one  has  to  do 
is,  to  stand  still,  and  bear  it  like  a  philosopher,  not  at- 
tempt to  run  away,  as  poor  Sambo  did.  There  is  not 
the  least  danger  in  such  a  case,  if  one  will  only  be  quiet. 
It  will  call  forth  all  the  presence  of  mind  that  he  is  pos- 
sessed of,  without  doubt.  In  such  a  case,  another  per- 
son should  bring  a  hive  and  hold  it  over  the  bees,  resting 
it  in  some  manner  that  will  give  facility  for  them  to 
enter,  and  in  a  few  minutes,  they  will  all  take  to  the 
hive. 

sambo's  first  trial  at  hiving. 

When  I  commenced  keeping  bees,  I  was  as  green  in 
the  business  as  the  most  ignorant.  I  gave  directions  to 
my  servant  to  dress  the  hive  with  salt  and  water,  having 
heard  that  this  was  good:  When  I  returned  at  evening, 
(I  resided  on  Long  Island,  and  came  to  New  York 
daily,)  he  informed  me  that  a  large  swarm  had  issued, 
and  he  hived  it,  and  in  a  few  minutes  they  rushed  out, 
and  that  was  the  last  he  saw  of  them.  I  turned  up  the 
hive,  and  behold!  he  had  rubbed  salt  enous^h  on  the 
sides  of  it,  to  pickle  a  pig.     There  was  no  wnpdrr  v  hv 


bee-keeper's  manual.  291 

the  bees  departed.  The  next  day,  when  I  returned,  he 
came  up  grinning,  "  I've  got  'em,  sir,  this  time,  and  a 
mighty  large  swarm  it  is,  too,"  said  he.  What,  another 
swarm  out,  inquired  I  ?  "  Yes,  sir,  here  it  is,  and  to 
make  sure  of  'em,  I  cut  off  the  branch,  and  put  it  into 
the  hive,  and  then  tied  a  cloth  over  it  tight,  leaving  one 
little  air  hole  for  'em  to  breathe,  sir."  Sure  enough, 
there  was  the  hive  tied  up  like  a  band-box  on  a  journey. 
I  flew  around  and  made  the  necessary  preparations  to 
remove  them,  and  called  my  wife  out  to  witness  the 
first  swarm,  as  I  should  remove  the  covering,  and  turn 
up  the  hive  to  our  admiring  eyes.  I  got  the  whole 
family  around  me,  as  assistants  in  the  operation,  all  as 
eager  to  witness  the  bees  as  myself  I  gently  raised  the 
cloth.  The  end  of  the  branch  protruded  under  the  hive. 
I  raised  the  hive  on  one  side  very  slowly,  with  my  heart 
in  a  flutter  of  excitement  and  anxiety ;  I  expected  soon 
to  hear  exclamations  of  delight  on  all  sides.  Higher 
and  higher  the  hive  was  raised,  expecting  every  instant 
to  catch  a  view  of  the  swarm  clustered  at  the  top.  Pre- 
sently it  gained  a  point  where  the  eye  reached  the  sum- 
mit, and  such  a  sight !  Reader,  what  do  you  think  it 
was  ?  Not  a  single  bee  was  there  !  If  ever  the  mer- 
cury went  down  suddenly  in  my  blood,  it  was  then.  I 
was  nigh  breaking  the  hive  over  Sambo's  head,  but  the 
old  fellow  was  useful,  and  I  let  him  off"  with  a  good 
scolding  for  having  duped  me.  The  bees  had  escaped 
one  by  one,  through  his  air-hole,  and  had  returned  to 
the  parent  family. 


292  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

GRAPE-VINES  SUITABLE  TO  CLUSTER  ON ARTIFICIAL 

CLUSTERING  BUSHES,   ETC. 

A  grape-vine  seems  to  be  a  particular  favorite  for 
bees  to  cluster  on.  I  had  several  large  vines  near  my 
apiary,  on  Long  Island,  and  I  have  frequently  had  every 
swarm  during  a  season,  cluster  on  them.  When  the 
leaves  are  large  enough  to  afford  shade,  they  are  inclined 
to  cluster  on  them  more,  than  when  the  vines  are  par- 
tially bare.  They  often  cluster  in  peach,  apricot,  cherry 
and  apple  trees ;  and  not  unfrequently  on  currant  bushes. 
Wiiere  no  small  trees  exist  of  the  size  of  ordinary  peach 
trees,  some  kind  of  small  tree  should  be  set  out,  and  I 
know  of  none  better  than  the  peach.  I  have  tried  arti- 
ficial clustering  shrubs  or  bushes  with  the  most  perfect 
success.  In  the  spring  of  1848,  I  removed  my  apiary 
to  a  place  where  not  a  tree  or  shrub  existed  of  a  suitable 
size.  I  took  a  dozen  of  the  poles  used  for  sustaining 
dahlias,  about  six  feet  long,  and  to  the  end  of  each  I 
fastened  a  green  cedar  bush  about  one  foot  in  diameter, 
and  eighteen  inches  long ;  being  the  tops  of  small  cedar 
trees  and  shrubs  found  in  any  quantity,  in  the  woods. 
I  drove  down  these  poles  in  different  places  around  the 
apiary,  some  two  rods  apart ;  making  the  bushes  stand 
from  four  to  six  feet  high.  When  the  swarms  issued, 
they  selected  one  of  these  bushes.  I  had  twenty-six 
issue.s,  and  every  one  clustered  in  the  same  way ;  and 
seemed  to  like  them  better  than  trees,  as  they  afford  the 
best  security  against  the  bees  falling.  They  generally 
clustered  around  the  centre  of  the  bush,  and  when  they 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  293 

became  dry  and  faded,  it  made  no  difference  in  regard 
to  the  bees  clusterina:  on  them. 


APPEARANCES  AT  THE  MOMENT  OF  ISSUING. 

Perhaps  some  of  my  readers  would  Uke  to  know  how 
a  family  of  bees  is  affected  at  the  first  movements  in 
swarming,  since  very  few  bee-keepers  witness  the  first 
outward  excitement  among  them.  I  stood  looking  at  a 
hive  last  June,  and  presently  a  mass  of  bees  came  surg- 
ing over  and  over,  out  of  the  hive  on  every  side,  like 
the  froth  of  a  pot  slowly  boiling  over.  The  bees  ran  up 
the  sides  a  few  inches,  making  a  complete  mass  all 
around  it,  and  then  for  a  moment,  the  most  phrenzied 
excitement  took  place,  running  in  every  direction,  with 
a  speed  unnatural  to  them.  Then  they  commenced 
rising  on  the  wing,  and  in  one  minute,  the  air  was  dark- 
ened by  the  mass  that  issued. 

TIME  OF  DAY  TO  EXPECT  SWARMS  TO  SALLY  FORTH. 

From  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  6  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  they  may  issue,  but  generally  from  10  to  3. 
In  very  warm  weather  swarms  frequently  issue  as  early 
as  7.  This  is  about  all  the  specific  guide  any  one  can 
have. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


ARTIFICIAL  SWARMS. 

The  art  of  forming  artificial  swarms  has  been  known 
for  many  years.  Shirach  is  reputed  as  the  original  dis- 
coverer of  it.  It  is  simply  based  on  the  power  that  the 
workers  possess,  to  convert  any  worker-egg  or  larvae 
under  four  days  old,  into  a  queen,  as  I  discussed  in  Chap- 
ter II.  This  being  an  established  fact,  it  follows,  that 
if  a  queen  belonging  to  any  family  be  removed,  and  leave 
behind  eggs  or  larvae,  of  a  suitable  age,  the  bees  will 
rear  another  queen,  and  proceed  in  their  labors,  as  if 
nothing  had  occurred  to  them. 

I  will  now  illustrate  precisely  what  would  take  place 
within  a  hive,  if  a  queen  were  suddenly  removed.  We 
will  suppose  that  the  whole  interior  of  the  hive  is  fully 
exposed  to  our  view.  We  now  remove  the  queen  sud- 
denly, and  without  molesting  the  workers  in  the  least. 
All  is  perfectly  quiet,  and  perhaps  may  remain  so  seve- 
ral hours,  since  no  alarm  has  been  sounded.  The  work- 
ers take  it  for  granted,  that  the  queen  is  still  there;  and 
although  they  do  not  see  or  feel  her,  yet  it  is  presumed 
that  she  is  somewhere  about  the  hive.     We  will  arouse 


bee-keeper's  manual.  295 

them,  and  on  the  approach  of  danger,  their  first  impulse 
is  to  be  assured  of  the  safety  of  their  sovereign.  We 
take  a  rod  and  rap  smartly  on  the  hive. — The  bees  now 
begin  to  run  speedily  over  the  combs — the  excitement 
increases,  and  they  are  now  fully'  aware  of  the  queen's 
absence.  Hark !  what  a  tumult  and  roar  within  !  How 
eagerly  they  traverse  the  combs,  as  if  in  search  of  some- 
thing. Six  hours  have  now  past,  and  the  excitement  is 
dying  away.  Here  in  this  cluster  of  bees,  the  rudiments 
of  a  queen-cell  are  already  laid,  and  within  twenty-four 
hours  one  of  the  larva  of  the  unsealed  cells  will  be  re- 
moved to  it,  and  in  about  12  days  a  queen  will  issue. 

If  a  strange  queen  should  now  be  offered  to  them,  they 
would  not  receive  her  kindly ;  but  would  cluster  around 
her  in  such  numbers  as  to  suffocate  her,  in  all  proba- 
bility. But  if  we  wait  24  hours,  and  then  offer  a  new 
sovereign,  she  would  be  welcome,  and  would  be  treated 
with  the  respect  due  to  royalty,  since  it  requires  24 
hours  to  cause  a  family  of  workers  to  forget  their  queen. 

On  an  occasion  of  endeavoring  to  unite  two  small 
artificial  swarms,  where  I  was  apprehensive  that  one  of 
them  was  without  a  queen,  I  attempted  driving  them  out 
by  the  aid  of  smoke,  and  the  family  that  I  supposed  to 
be  without  a  queen,  did  possess  one,  and  she  rushed  out 
of  the  hive  and  alighted  on  the  under  side  of  the  brim 
of  my  hat ;  I  seized  her,  and  placed  her  under  a  tumbler 
until  the  next  day,  when  I  turned  up  a  hive  that  con- 
tained another  artificial  swarm,  which,  to  all  appear- 
ances, had  no  queen :  and  having  laid  the  hive  on  its 
side,  I  placed  her  majesty  close  up  to  the  bees  as  they 


296  miner's    AMERICAN 

clustered  on  the  combs,  and  stood  awhile  to  watch  the 
result.  At  first  they  did  not  seem  to  notice  her,  but 
presently,  two  or  three  workers  extended  their  antennae 
towards  her,  and  at  once  appeared  excited ;  and  in  a 
few  minutes,  a  dozen  or  more  gathered  around,  holding 
her  a  close  prisoner.  She  endeavored  to  extricate  her- 
self from  them,  and  very  plainly  articulated  the  sound  of 
peep,  peep.  I  heard  it  as  distinctly  as  I  could  hear  a 
chicken's  call.  She  soon  disappeared  in  the  mass  of 
bees,  and  I  saw  nothing  more  of  her. 

This  was  a  queen  that  had  been  reared  from  the 
worker  larvae,  that  I  had  introduced  into  her  hive,  some 
three  months  before. 

The  benefit  to  be  derived  from  artificial  swarming,  is 
in  cases  where  families  send  off  no  swarms,  as  often  oc- 
curs, from  causes  already  narrated. 

The  method  of  performing  the  operation  is  as  follows : 
take  a  clean  empty  hive,  and  attach  at  the  top,  in  one 
corner,  a  small  piece  of  brood-comb,  containing  both 
eggs  and  larvae  ;  at  least  larvae  in  cells  not  sealed  over. 
The  younger  they  are  the  better,  and  even  eggs  alone 
are  sufficient,  since  an  egg  of  to-day,  will  become  larva 
to-morrow  or  next  day.  The  manner  of  attaching  the 
comb  is  as  described  at  page  201,  and  the  utmost  care 
is  requisite,  in  order  to  cement  it  firmly.  When  that  is 
done,  on  a  fine  day  about  11  or  12  o'clock,  as  the  great- 
est number  of  bees  are  out  at  those  hours,  you  then 
remove  the  stock  with  surplus  numbers,  to  a  new  situa- 
tion, as  far  off  as  convenient,  and  not  less  than  ten  feet ; 
and  if  you  can  brush  off  a  portion  of  bees,  that  cluster 


bee-keeper's  manual.  297 

on  its  sides  before  it  be  removed,  you  should  not  fail  to 
do  so,  at  the  same  time,  having  the  empty  hive  in  the 
full  one's  place  to  receive  them.  By  such  means,  a 
nucleus  is  at  once  formed  around  the  brood-comb.  If 
there  be  no  clustering  outside,  you  should  manage  in 
some  way,  to  get  about  a  quart  of  bees  to  enter  the 
empty  hive  at  once,  as  your  success  depends  upon  it. 
If  no  other  M^ay  offer,  you  must  turn  the  full  hive  bot- 
tom upwards,  and  set  the  empty  one  over  it,  and  with 
a  rod  strike  the  lower  hive  for  a  few  minutes,  when  a 
portion  of  its  inmates  will  have  entered  the  empty  one, 
and  clustered  on  the  comb  above.  The  two  following 
days  will  add  large  numbers  to  the  artificial  swarm,  be- 
sides all  the  bees  that  are  out  in  the  fields  when  the 
operation  is  performed.  If  the  full  hive  be  removed 
without  leaving  bees  enough  behind  to  form  a  nucleus 
around  the  brood-comb,  the  bees  returning  from  the  fields 
finding  an  empty  hive,  will  run  around  in  distraction, 
and  perhaps  depart  entirely ;  but  if  they  see  a  cluster 
already  in  the  hive,  however  small  it  may  be,  they  will 
join  it ;  and  after  the  first  six  hours,  they  will  go  to  work 
and  rear  a  new  queen,  and  in  the  fall  there  will  be  no 
difference  between  this  swarm  and  one  that  has  issued 
in  the  natural  way.  Artificial  swarms  must  be  large, 
or  there  is  a  liability  of  their  not  rearing  a  queen,  for 
the  want  of  sufficient  animal  heat  within  the  hive  to  de- 
velop her;  and  also  on  account  of  the  delay  attending 
their  own  natural  increase,  from  having  to  wait  two 
weeks,  at  least,  before  a  queen  will  be  ready  to  com- 
mence laying. 

13* 


298  miner's    AMERICAN 

TIME  OF  YEAR  TO  MAKE  ARTIFICIAL  SWARMS. 

Artificial  swarms  may  be  made  as  soon  as  the  15th 
of  May,  and  as  late  as  the  15th  of  June,  with  safety. 
Later  than  this  period,  would  be  attended  with  some 
risk  of  success ;  not  only  an  account  of  the  lateness  of 
the  season  for  gathering  honey ;  but  also  for  the  reason, 
that  there  would  be  no  certainty  of  a  sufficient  number 
of  drones  existing  when  the  queens  mature,  to  effect  her 
impregnation  as  speedily  as  the  case  demands. 

ARTIFICIAL  SWARMS  MADE  WHOLLY  BY  DRIVING  OUT. 

In  certain  cases  it  may  be  best  to  drive  bees  enough 
out  at  once,  to  form  the  swarm  desired  ;  and  if  the 
queen  of  the  old  family  be  driven  out,  there  is  no  neces- 
sity for  attaching  a  piece  of  brood-comb  in  the  empty 
hive.  The  best  method  of  performing  the  operation  in 
this  way  is,  to  drive  out  about  two-thirds  of  the  bees  of 
the  stock,  and  the  queen  is  almost  sure  to  go  out  with 
them,  before  so  large  a  portion  of  the  family  departs. 
When  this  is  effected,  place  the  empty  hive  now  con- 
taining the  queen  and  two-thirds  of  the  family,  in  a  new 
situation ;  and  the  old  hive  where  it  has  always  rested. 
The  bees  in  the  new  hive,  with  the  queen,  will  be  con- 
tent,^ of  course,  and  they  will  commence  comb-building 
in  a  few  hours.  A  small  portion  of  them  will  return  to 
the  old  stand,  enough  to  equalize  the  families,  which  is 
just  what  is  desired.  The  bees  in  the  old  hive  will  miss 
their  queen,  and  make  a  great  uproar  about  it  for  a  few 
hours,  but  will  finally  go  to  work  and  rear  a  new  queen 


BEE-KEEPERS    MANUAL.  299 

from  the  larvae  that  was  left  when  the  old  one  vacated, 
and  the  larvae  left  will  mature  at  the  proper  season,  if  the 
weather  be  warm,  and  thus  increase  the  family,  and  at 
the  end  of  three  months,  both  famihes  will  have  filled 
their  respective  hives  with  honey,  wax  and  bees. 

DIRECTIONS  FOR  DRIVING  AND  DISLODGING  BEES. 

Notwithstanding  that  I  have  already  stated,  how  bees 
should  be  driven  from  one  hive  to  another,  in  brief,  yet 
I  am  aware,  that  I  cannot  give  too  plain,  and  explicit  di- 
rections for  this  operation,  which  to  the  inexperienced 
bee-keeper,  must  at  first  be  attempted,  with  any  feelings 
but  those  of  pleasure.  In  the  first  place,  you  must  be 
perfectly  protected  by  a  bee-dress  and  glOves.  No  half- 
way work  in  such  matters.  Provided  the  weather  be 
warm  and  favorable,  it  may  be  done  at  any  time  of  day, 
if  you  are  to  drive  out  a  full  swarm ;  and  if  much  clus- 
tering exists  outside,  the  time  when  the  least  exists  is 
best.  You  take  the  full  hive  and  turn  it  over  carefully, 
setting  it  down  on  the  ground  or  table,  on  its  upper  end. 
The  empty  hive  is  now  to  be  set  over  the  full  one,  mak- 
ing a  close  joint,  so  that  no  bees  can  escape;  and  I 
would  here  observe,  that  all  hives  should  be  of  the  same 
diameter  in  every  apiary,  in  order  to  effect  such  ope- 
rations with  ease  and  facility.  Having  eflfected  the 
junction,  an  empty  hive  is  to  be  placed  where  the  full 
one  stood,  as  a  decoy,  to  keep  the  bees  that  return  from 
the  fields  from  entering  the  neighboring  hives,  until  the 
operation  is  performed.  A  cloth  is  now  to  be  tied 
around  the  joint,  where  the  two  hives  meet,  to  make  it 


300  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

as  dark  as  possible  within  the  hives.  This  done,  the 
lower  hive  should  be  rapped  smartly  with  a  small  rod  on 
all  sides,  for  the  space  of  ten  or  fifteen  minutes ;  when, 
in  all  probability,  half  or  two-thirds  of  the  family,  with 
the  queen,  will  have  ascended  into  the  upper  hive,  and 
clustered  there  in  a  compact  and  quiet  body. 

HOW  TO  CUT  OUT  BROOD-COMBS. 

This  is  a  job  that  is  not  coveted  by  the  amateur  apia- 
rian ;  yet  it  must  be  done,  where  artificial  swarms  are 
to  be  made ;  and  when  once  performed,  it  is  quite  easy 
to  do.  All  that  is  necessary  is  perfect  protection,  that 
does  not  obscure  the  vision, — a  steady  hand,  with  cour- 
age and  perseverance,  and  all  obstacles  dwindle  into 
insignificance. 

In  the  first  place,  1  will  introduce  to  your  acquaint- 
ance, a  couple  of  very  handy  instruments,  that  every 
bee-keeper  should  possess. 


One  is  a  long  knife,  with  an  edge  on  each  side,  and 
sharpened  at  the  end,  so  as  to  admit  severing  combs 
from  their  attachments  with  facility.  The  other  is  a  long 
steel  rod,  with  a  two-edged  knife  at  the  angle,  for  the 
purpose  of  cutting  combs  horizontally.  One  edge  of 
the  blade  is  turned  directly  towards  the  reader,  and  the 
other  from  him.  The  length  of  the  rod  and  handle, 
should  be  about  18  inches,  and  the  length  of  the  blade 
at  the  angle,  an  inch  and  a  half.     The  diameter  of  the 


f  BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  301 

blade  on  its  flat  side,  should  not  be  over  a  quarter  of  an 
inch,  as  it  is  often  to  be  inserted  between  combs,  where 
the  space  is  not  over  three-eighths  of  an  inch. 

These  two  instruments  are  useful  in  cutting  out  pieces 
of  brood-comb,  as  well  as  for  various  other  purposes, 
that  every  apiarian  will  see  the  necessity  of,  many  times 
in  a  season.  If  you  possess  nothing  of  the  kind,  you 
must  take  the  sharpest  and  longest  knife  in  your  kitchen. 
You  have  a  carving-knife,  of  course,  and  if  it  be  a  little 
curved  at  the  point,  the  better.  Take  this  and  put  on 
your  bee-dress,  and  I  will  then  tell  you  what  to  do.  All 
ready,  I  perceive.  Now,  take  this  stone,  and  sharpen  the 
point  of  your  knife  on  it.  Sharpen  it  on  a  whetstone  ? 
No :  if  you're  going  to  learn  how  to  cut  out  brood- 
combs  from  me,  you  must  do  as  I  say.  I  know  it  makes  it 
as  rough  as  a  saw,  but  don't  get  into  a  passion,  that  is  just 
what  I  want,  it  will  cut  honey-comb  better  in  that  rough 
condition,  than  it  would  if  it  were  as  sharp  as  a  razor. 
Now,  sir,  turn  this  hive  over  on  its  top.  Afraid  to  do 
it  ?  There,  now  it  is  over — is  any  one  hurt  ?  Now 
take  your  knife  and  run  it  obliquely  through  one  of 
these  centre  combs,  cutting  with  the  point  of  the  knife 
only.  Can't  see,  there  are  so  many  bees  ?  well,  feel  your 
way,  then,  but  cut  slowly,  so  as  not  to  irritate  or  kill 
them.  Now  loosen  the  attachment  at  the  side,  and  with 
your  left  hand,  hold  the  comb  from  falling.  Yes,  take 
hold  of  bees  and  all,  they  can't  sting  through  your  glove. 
There,  sir,  what  do  you  think  now  ?  The  operation  is 
over,  and  you  are  alive. 

If  an  ordinary  knife  be  used,  a  large  portion  of  larvae 


302  miner's    AMERICAN 

are  destroyed  by  cutting  the  comb  obliquely,  more  than 
would  be  by  cutting  vertically,  and  then  horizontally, 
with  the  knife  with  an  angle,  as  shown  in  the  cut. 

ARTIFICIAL   SWARMS  FORMED  BY  DIVISION, 

This  method  of  making  swarms  at  pleasure,  consists 
in"  having  hives  made  in  two  parts,  to  divide  in  the  cen- 
tre, somewhat  on  the  plan  of  the  collateral  hive  at  page 
186,  with  this  difference,  that  where  both  parts  are 
united,  they  form  a  square  hive,  of  the  usual  size.  The 
two  parts  should  be  so  constructed,  that  they  may  be 
separated  at  any  time  with  ease.  From  necessity,  they 
must  be  like  the  lower  section  of  the  box-hive,  as  repre- 
sented at  page  153,  that  is,  when  joined. 

After  being  connected,  supers  may  surmount  them  as 
on  the  box-hive,  with  a  couple  of  holes  through  each 
half.  The  two  sides  coming  together  should  have  the 
greatest  possible  open  space  between  them,  and  not  ad- 
mit of  a  union  of  the  combs  in  each  half.  A  narrow, 
and  very  thin  strip  of  board  should  be  placed  across,  at 
the  top,  and  sunk  into  the  hive  its  whole  thickness  ;  and 
in  the  middle,  and  at  the  bottom,  place  the  same  strips, 
about  two  inches  wide.  This  is  to  be  done  on  one  side 
only.  The  other  half  requires  nothing.  The  strips 
should  be  very  thin,  not  over  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
thick,  at  most.  It  will  be  necessary  to  insert  guide- 
combs,  or  the  bees  might  build  transversly,  or  narrow 
combs  across  each  part,  and  in  that  case  they  would  be 
apt  to  unite  them  through  the  interstices,  or  passage- 
way between  the  two  parts.     In  order  to  unite  them 


bee-keeper's  manual.  303 

firmly,  a  hook  and  staple  should  be  placed  on  each  side, 
and  one  at  the  top,  perhaps ;  and  if  the  hive  rest  on 
pins,  a  piece  of  sheet  iron  should  be  secured  to  the  bot- 
tom of  one  of  the  parts,  on  both  sides  where  the  union 
takes  place,  and  made  to  lap  over  a  half  an  inch,  so  that 
the  bottom  of  the  other  half  may  catch  and  rest  on  them. 
We  will  suppose,  that  we  have  a  hive  on  this  princi- 
ple, full  of  bees,  and  we  wish  to  make  an  artificial  swarm. 
We  take  another  hive  of  the  same  kind,  and  divide  it. 
We  then  unhitch  the  full  hive,  and  slowly,  and  carefully 
remove  one  of  its  sides  a  few  feet,  and  supply  its  place 
with  an  empty  one,  corresponding  in  every  particular. 
We  next  unite  the  other  empty  half  to  the  half  of  the 
full  one,  that  was  removed,  and  await  the  result.  The 
queen  will  be  in  one  half,  but  in  which,  must  be  proved 
as  follows  : — take  a  rod  and  beat  each  hive  smartly, 
arousing  the  bees  as  much  as  possible ;  and  that  part 
which  contains  the  queen  will  be  quite  tranquil  after  a 
few  minutes  ;  but  a  tremendous  confusion  will  exist  in 
the  other,  and  the  bees  will  run  around,  under,  and  over 
the  hive  in  great  consternation.  The  part  where  the 
bees  are  quiet  should  be  removed  to  a  new  place,  and 
the  other  should  be  placed  in  its  position.  In  the  fall, 
two  prime  families  will  exist,  perhaps,  equally  as  good 
as  if  no  division  had  taken  place,  and  no  swarm  had 
been  thrown  off. 

autificial  swarms  may  be  transposed. 

Sometimes  it  may  happen,  that  one  or  two  very  large, 
and  also  a  few  very  small  artificial  swarms  may  exist 


304  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

in  the  same  apiary.  Such  swarms  may,  within  the  first 
two  weeks  of  their  existence,  and  before  the  queens  ma- 
ture, be  transposed  with  good  results  ;  that  is,  take  a 
very  large  swarm,  and  place  it  in  the  position  of  a  small 
one,  and  vice  versd.  An  equalization  of  families  can  be 
effected  in  this  way,  as  the  bees  mix  with  perfect  peace 
at  such  times.  No  other  swarms,  or  stocks  can  be 
treated  in  this  manner,  without  ruinous  results  to  both 
families. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


CHANGING  FAMILIES  FROM  OLD  TO 
NEW  HIVES. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  bees  thrive  best,  during 
the  first  four  or  five  years  of  their  existence  in  the  same 
tenement.  It  has  been  often  asserted,  that  the  lack  of 
animation,  and  of  the  decay  of  families,  is  in  conse- 
quence of  every  generation  of  bees,  bred  in  the  same 
tenement  being  smaller  than  their  predecessors  ;  on  ac- 
count of  the  yearly  contraction  or  diminishing  of  the 
cells.  It  is  said,  that  the  silken  shrouds,  that  enclose  the 
larvae  are  left  behind,  pressed  to  the  sides  of  the  cells, 
when  the  young  bees  come  forth,  thus  causing  them  to 
become  gradually  smaller  and  smaller,  until  there  is  not 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  305 

room  enough  for  the  larvae  to  become  fully  developed,  in 
their  natural  size  and  vigor.  This  hypothesis  I  must 
dissent  to ;  notwithstanding  it  is  heresy  to  do  so.  Who, 
among  my  readers,  has  compared  the  size  of  bees,  in 
diflerent  hives,  and  found  some  a  dwarf  race,  while  the 
tenants  of  the  other  hives  were  of  the  full,  natural  size  ? 
Perhaps  some  among  you  have  imagined  that  you  could 
discover  a  difference,  and  so  have  I,  but  on  close  in- 
spection, I  found  that  I  was  mistaken.  I  have  a  hive, 
in  which  the  bees  have  resided  during  ten  years,  and 
not  a  particle  of  difference  in  the  size  of  its  tenants 
from  those  of  other  hives,  can  be  perceived.  An  ac- 
quaintance of  mine  assured  me,  some  few  years  ago, 
that  he  had  a  family  which  had  inhabited  the  same  hive, 
from  generation  to  generation,  twenty-nine  years,  with 
no  difference  in  the  size  of  its  occupants  from  those  of 
other  domicils. 

It  is  my  opinion,  that  the  cause  of  deterioration,  is 
not  as  above  stated ;  but  in  consequence  of  the  black- 
ened and  vitiated  state  of  the  combs,  rendering  the 
atmosphere  within  impure,  and  having  more  or  less 
lodgments  of  the  moth  to  eradicate,  from  year  to  year, 
until  the  effluvia  of  the  combs  operates  to  the  injury  of 
breeding,  and  through  that  cause,  to  the  final  destruc- 
tion, in  some  cases,  of  the  family.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
we  know  that  on  the  fourth  or  fifth  year,  it  is  best  to 
effect  a  change.  How  that  is  to  be  done  is  the  next 
question.  The  "subtended"  plan  will  not  answer,  for 
reasons  already  given  ;  but  if  we  choose  to  take  the 
lives  of  our  bees  in  the  old  way  of  usina;  brimstone,  we 


306  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

can  destroy  our  old  families  every  fall,  and  leave  our 
young  ones  ;  but  this  method  is  a  cruel  and  a  barbarous 
one;  and  wholly  unnecessary,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
loss  that  the  owner  sustains  by  such  a  course.  The 
method  pursued  in  dividing  families  by  a  division  of  the 
hive,  affords  new  combs  for  one  half  of  the  tenement ; 
and  this  mode  may  be  pursued  with  tolerable  success, 
and  two  families  are  made  where,  perhaps,  but  one  would 
exist,  in  the  case  of  driving  out  the  bees  into  new  hives. 
Driving  them  out,  makes  the  operation  perfect,  and  if 
not  done  until  a  swarm  issues,  two  families  are  just  as 
certain  to  result  from  it  as  on  the  previous  plan. 

The  operation  of  driving  out  should  be  performed  as 
follows :  The  bees  should  not  be  disturbed  before  the 
fore  part  of  June,  in  order  to  see  whether  any  swarms 
are  to  issue,  and  to  give  an  opportunity  for  as  many 
larvae  to  develope  as  possible.  Whether  a  swarm  be 
sent  off  or  not,  it  is  not  advisable  to  wait  beyond  the  20th 
of  June,  as  the  bees  must  have  time  to  lay  in  sufficient 
honey  for  their  winter  use.  At  evening,  or  early  in  the 
morning,  take  an  empty  hive  and  surmount  the  full  one, 
as  before  directed,  winding  a  cloth  around  the  junction. 
Then,  as  before  stated,  beat  the  sides  of  the  hive,  until 
all  the  bees  have  ascended  into  the  empty  one,  which 
will  generally  be  effected,  in  15  or  20  minutes;  if  the 
old  hive  be  full  of  bees.  If  it  be  but  partially  filled,  they 
cannot  be  forced  out  at  all,  without  the  use  of  smoke. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  307 


Here  is  a  smoke-pan  that  maybe  advantageously  used 
at  times.  Tobacco  smoke  is  most  effectual  in  forcing 
the  bees  to  depart  speedily,  but  anything  that  will  pro- 
duce smoke  may  be  used.  A  little  cut,  smoking  tobacco 
ignited  in  the  pan,  with  the  cover  let  down,  would  an- 
swer the  purpose.  If  the  chamber-hive  be  used,  the 
boxes  or  drawers  may  be  removed,  and  the  pan  set  in 
the  chamber.  The  smoke  will  ascend  through  the  holes, 
and  by  this  means,  together  with  rapping  the  hive,  the 
bees  will  be  made  to  ascend ;  or  the  pan  may  be  placed 
under  the  lower,  or  open  end  of  the  hive,  and  force  the 
bees  up  into  the  box  in  the  chamber,  which  can  be  with- 
drawn, and  the  bees  emptied  down  at  the  side  of  the 
hive,  that  is  intended  for  their  use,  and  they  will  readily 
enter.  In  such  a  case,  but  one  box  should  be  inserted 
in  the  chamber,  open  at  the  bottom,  as  I  have  directed 
that  they  should  be  made.  If  the  box-hive  be  used,  the 
super  will  receive  the  bees,  and  with  more  facility  than 
boxes  in  the  chambers  of  other  hives.  When  the  most 
of  the  bees  are  driven  out  with  the  queen,  the  combs  of 
the  old  hive  may  be  cut  out,  and  the  few  bees  remain- 
ing, will  join  the  rest  of  the  family,  where  new  combs 


308 


JllNEK  S    AMIilUCAN 


will  be  constructed  at  once,  the  same  as  if  the  bees  had 
swarmed  out  in  the  natural  way. 


The  above  cut  represents  a  fumigator,  as  described  by 
Dr.  Bevan.  I  do  not  approve  of  it,  but  T  give  it  a  place, 
and  they  who  choose  can  make  use  of  it.  a,  is  the  fun- 
nel, with  a  hole  in  the  end  to  let  out  the  smoke ;  &,  is  a 
plate  extending  across  the  fumigator,  perforated  full  of 
holes  to  admit  the  passage  of  the  smoke  only  ;  c,  is  a 
cylindrical  portion  of  the  box,  three  inches  in  diameter, 
and  three  and  a  half  long,  in  which  the  tobacco  is  placed , 
c/,  is  the  lid,  which  is  received  into  the  box  when  the 
tobacco  has  been  lighted ;  e,  is  the  tube  which  should 
be  adapted  to  the  size  of  the  bellows-pipe.  The  whole 
is  made  of  tin,  having  the  joinings  soldered.  It  is  used 
by  inserting  the  bellows-pipe  in  the  tube,  and  then  the 
action  of  the  bellows  drives  the  smoke  out  through  the 
funnel. 

They  who  are  accustomed  to  smoking,  often  perform 
any  operation  requiring  the  aid  of  smoke,  simply  by  di- 
recting a  few  whifTs  from  a  cigar  or  pipe,  into  the  hive, 
where  the  removal  is  to  be  effected. 

The  following  cut  shows  a  much  better,  and  less  ex- 
pensive fumigator. 


bee-keeper's  manual.  309 


It  consists  of  an  ordinary  bellows,  with  a  tin  tube, 
about  three  inches  long,  and  two  in  diameter,  fitted  over 
the  air  hole.  The  cover  to  this  tube  is  perforated  with 
holes ;  and  the  air  hole  is  covered  with  tin,  also  perfo- 
rated in  like  manner.  When  this  apparatus  is  used,  open 
the  tube,  put  in  the  tobacco  ignited,  close  it,  and  the 
action  of  the  bellows  carries  the  smoke  out  of  the  bel- 
lows-pipe. This  is  the  most  simple  and  practical  fumi- 
gator  in  use. 

UNITING  STOCKS. 

It  often  happens  that  the  apiarian  finds  it  necessary 
to  unite  two  of  his  stocks,  or  old  families.  The  cause 
that  leads  to  such  a  necessity,  is  frequently  from  over- 
swarming,  or  sending  out  more  colonies  than  can  be 
safely  spared ;  thereby  weakening  the  parent  family  so 
much,  as  not  to  be  able  to  recover  during  the  season. 
When  two  weak  families  exist  of  this  character,  if  they 
are  united,  one  prosperous  family  will  be  the  result; 
whereas,  if  left  separate,  both  would  be  destroyed. 

The  difficulty  attending  the  union  of  old  families,  lies 
in  their  unwillingness  to  mix  peaceably.  There  is  a 
certain  peculiar  scent  pertaining  to  the  bees  of  every 
family,  and  especially  to  old  ones.  In  order  to  obviate 
this  difficulty,  and  cause  both  families  to  mix  without 
strife,  the  following  plan  may  be  adopted.     Take  one  of 


310  miner's    AMERICAN 

the  hives  at  evening,  and  turn  it  up,  then  spread  ovei 
it  a  gauze  or  millinet  covering,  or  anything  that  will 
allow  a  free  circulation  of  air  through  it ;  then  take  the 
other  hive,  containing  the  family  that  it  is  desired  to 
connect  with  the  first,  and  place  it  thereon,  giving  the 
bees  of  neither  family  an  opportunity  to  escape ;  but 
allowing  them  sufficient  air  for  respiration.  Leave  them 
in  this  position  48  hours,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time, 
the  scent  of  the  two  families  will  have  become  so  blen- 
ded and  interchanged,  that  they  may  be  united  with 
perfect  safety.  The  process  must  be  by  smoke  applied 
to  the  lower  hive,  with  the  use  of  the  rod,  after  with- 
drawing the  cloth  that  divides  them. 


CHAPTER     XXIII. 


THE  SEASONS. 

FALL  MANAGEMENT. 

The  months  of  October  and  November  are  the  sea- 
son when  the  state  of  the  apiary  will  require  particular 
attention.  The  hives  should  be  examined,  and  those  not 
containing  honey  enough  for  its  occupants  to  sustain 
them  during  the  winter,  must  be  fed.  An  ordinary 
swarm  or  family  of  bees,  will  consume  from  15  to  20 
pounds  of  honey,  from  October  to  May.     If  the  winter 


bee-keeper's  manual,  311 

be  very  mild,  more  than  this  quantity  will  be  required ; 
but  not  in  an  ordinary  season.  The  apiarian  should  be 
able  from  practice,  to  know  at  once  on  raising  his  hives, 
whether  the  above  quantity  exists  in  them  or  not. 
Hives  that  have  been  occupied  several  years,  will  be  as 
heavy  without  any  honey,  as  others  that  have  been  used 
but  one  season,  with  from  five  to  ten  pounds ;  therefore, 
an  allowance  must  be  made  for  the  weight  of  old  combs, 
and  bee-bread. 

FEEDING  BEES. 

When  it  is  ascertained  what  families  are  short  of 
honey,  measures  should  at  once  be  taken  to  supply  them, 
since  the  cost  of  feeding  a  family,  is  not  one-tenth  of  its 
value.  The  month  of  October,  should  .be  selected  for 
this  purpose.  If  but  one  or  two  families,  out  of  ten  or 
twelve,  require  feeding,  it  is  best  to  feed  those  alone ; 
but  if  there  be  a  general  scarcity  or  lightness  of  the 
hives,  I  recommend  feeding  the  whole  in  the  apiary,  at 
the  same  time.  T  am  aware  that  feeding  bees  is  gene- 
rally looked  upon  as  one  of  the  greatest  difficulties  at- 
tending their  management ;  and  rather  than  attempt  it, 
many  bee-keepers  suffer  their  bees  to  petish.  The  diffi- 
culty is  just  as  great  as  it  is  to  carry  a  pail  of  feed  to  the 
pig-pen,  and  no  greater.  Do  not  understand  me,  by  this 
comparison,  that  bees  will  take  honey  from  a  trough,  as 
a  pig  will  take  meal  and  water.  It  only  requires  a  little 
difference  in  tendering  it  to  them,  however. 


312  miner's    AMERICAN 


Here  is  a  feeder,  with  a  cover  to  float  on  the  surface 
of  the  honey,  when  put  into  it.  The  box  may  be  as 
large  as  one  chooses  to  make  it.  For  an  apiary  of  from 
two  to  twelve  hives,  it  should  be  about  18  inches  long, 
six  inches  in  diameter,  and  four  in  depth.  The  float  is 
made  by  slitting  it  with  a  fine  saw,  as  many  times  as 
possible,  to  within  an  inch  of  the  end ;  and  the  board  is 
half  an  inch  thick.  The  other  end  is  secured  by  a 
clamp  or  bracket  nailed  across  it.  Open  the  interstices 
with  a  knife,  by  trimming  off*  the  edges  of  the  channels 
made  by  the  saw ;  then  put  a  couple  of  little  knobs,  or 
nails  at  each  end,  in  the  centre,  to  serve  to  raise  and 
lower  it ;  and  the  feeder  is  completed. 

If  honey  be  fed,  it  should  be  such  as  comes  from  the 
W.  I.  Islands,  which  is  sold  at  about  62  1-2  cents  per  gal- 
Ion,  of  12  pounds  ;  or  by  the  cask  at  50  cents.  If  it  be 
thick,  and  candied,  it  should  be  heated  to  the  boiling 
point,  with  a  little  water  added  to  thin  it.  The  only 
thing  except  honey,  that  can  propei-ly  be  fed  to  bees,  is 
syrup  made  of  sugar.  This  answers  every  purpose  of 
honey,  and  may  be  made  to  cost  from  four  to  five  cents 
per  pound,  only.  Sugar  that  sells  for  five  cents  per 
pound,  mixed  with  suflficient  water  to  make  the  syrup 
of  the  consistence  of  honey,  will  reduce  the  cost  of  a 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL,    .  313 

pound  of  it  to  about  four  and  a  half  cents ;  and  from 
five  to  ten  pounds,  will  generally  be  sufficient  for  the 
most  destitute  family  ;  which,  at  most,  will  not  cost  over 
45  cents.     Thus  it  may  be  seen,  that  for  this  trifling 
sum,  and  perhaps  often  for  half  the  amount,  a  family  of 
bees  may  be  kept  from  famine.     The  method  of  prepa- 
ring syrup  from  sugar,  is  to  heat  it  over  a  fire,  until  it 
begins  to  boil,  when  it  should  be  taken  off",  and  let  it 
stand  half  an  hour  for  the  scum  to  settle,  and  harden, 
in  order  to  skim  it  oflf  with  facility ;  and  when  cool,  turn 
it  into  the  feeder,  and  put  on  the  float,  and  set  it  before 
your  bees.     At  first,  they  will  hardly  notice  it,  but  a  few 
drops  should  be  placed  about  the  feeder,  to  call   their 
attention  to  it,  and  when  they  once  get  a  fair  scent  of  it, 
a  gallon  will  be  taken  away  in  a  few  hours,  and  stored 
in  the  cells.     This  way  of  feeding,  is  when  the  whole 
colony  are  fed,  rather  than  select  here  and  there  a  fam- 
ily.    Mild  weather  in  October  should  be   selected  for 
this  purpose,  and  all  the  food  should  be  furnished  that 
they  may  require  during  the  winter ;  and  a  family  will 
carry  enough  honey,  or  syrup  into  the  hive  in  a  single 
day,  if  not   disturbed   by  other  families,  to  suffice  for. 
several  months.     If  it  be  desired  to  feed  a  single  family, 
it  must  be  done  secretly,  that  other  families  may  not  be 
attracted  ;  and  for  this  purpose  a  small  feeder  is  neces- 
sary.    Take  a  small  tin  pan,  six  inches  long,  four  wide, 
and  one  or  two  deep.     Make  a  very  light,  wooden  float, 
and  perforate  it  full  of  holes,  with  a  pointed  iron  heated 
red-hot.     Fill  the  feeder  with  honey,  or  syrup,  and  place 
it  in  the  chamber  of  the  hive,  scattering  a  little  around, 
14 


314  miner's    AMERICAN 

to  attract  the  bees  to  it ;  at  the  same  time  rapping  on 
the  hive  to  cause  the  bees  to  ascend ;  or  place  it  below, 
and  shut  the  bees  in  until  it  is  emptied.  Families  may 
be  fed  at  any  time  during  the  winter  when  the  sun 
shines,  by  having  a  temporary,  or  permanent  glass  door 
to  the  chamber,  or  super  of  the  hive,  that  will  admit  the 
sun's  rays  pretty  freely  upon  the  division  board,  upon 
which  the  small  feeder  filled  with  honey  should  be 
placed.  I  once  fed  a  very  small  family  in  this  way,  that 
had  not  a  drop  of  honey  in  the  fall.  It  was  no  trouble. 
Every  day  that  the  sun  shone,  the  bees  were  up  in  the 
super  in  great  numbers,  even  in  the  coldest  weather  ;  and 
in  the  following  spring  they  increased  rapidly  in  num- 
bers, and  soon  filled  the  hive. 

Some  people  are  in  the  habit  of  merely  mixing  a  little 
water  with  the  sugar,  and  not  heating  it  at  all,  and  in  this 
condition  feed  it  to  the  bees.  This  is  downright  ruin  to 
them.  In  a  few  days  the  water  evapoi'ates,  and  the 
sugar  hardens  in  the  cells,  so  that  it  is  of  no  more  use 
to  the  bees  than  so  much  flint  stone,  to  say  nothing  of 
its  destroying  every  cell  that  it  hardens  in  for  any 
further  use.  I  recommend  honey  to  be  fed  in  the  fall,  if 
convenient,  and  syrup  in  the  spring. 

WINTER     MANAGEMENT. 

This  is  a  critical  season  for  bees,  and  their  proper 
management  is  but  very  imperfectly  understood  at  this 
period.  The  great  principle  that  should  actuate  the 
apiarian,  is  to  keep  his  bees  as  cool  as  possible,  as  I  have 
before  inculcated.      The  practice  of  burying  hives  in 


BEE-KEEPER  S  MANUAL.  315 

the  ground,  and  immuring  them  in  cellars,  is  all  wrong. 
Now  and  then,  a  man  will  have  a  family  pass  the  winter 
in  this  way,  without  actual  ruin ;  and  it  is  forthwith 
heralded  as  a  grand  discovery — the  very  best  way  to 
keep  bees  over  winter,  &c.  It  is  not  so.  I  have  neither 
time  nor  room  to  say  much  on  this  method  of  wintering 
bees,  but  any  place  that  is  not  perfectly  dry,  is  no  place 
for  bees  in  any  season.  In  cellars,  the  combs  will  mould 
to  a  greater,  or  less  extent,  thereby  laying  the  founda- 
tion for  the  ruin  of  every  family  thus  circumstanced. 

The  passages  from  the  lower  sections  of  the  hives,  to 
the  chambers,  or  supers,  should  be  left  unclosed.  This 
allows  the  steam  or  vapoi",  arising  in  hives  in  win- 
ter to  pass  off,  and  in  cold  climates,  it  prevents  the 
accumulation  of  frost  within  them,  that  would  other- 
wise occur. 

As  I  before  stated,  the  hives  should  be  let  down  in  the 
fall,  and  the  bees  made  to  pass  in  and  out,  through  the 
small  passages. 

Every  strong  family  should  have  a  current  of  air 
passing  under  them,  to  prevent  the  bees  desiring  to  come 
out ;  and  for  this  purpose,  remove  the  slides  to  both  the 
front  and  rear  openings.  Small,  weak  swarms,  will  be 
kept  sufficiently  cool,  by  opening  the  front  entrance  only. 

When  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow,  be  particular 
to  confine  your  bees,  if  they  come  out  much,  by  closing 
the  entrances  with  the  zink  slides;  and  as  soon  as  an 
opportunity  occurs  to  let  the  bees  take  an  airing,  they 
should  have  the  priviledge  of  doing  so.  The  hives  may 
be  occasionally  raised,  and  the  bottom-boards  cleaned 


316  MINERS    AMERICAN 

off,  which  will  aid  in  keeping  the  hives  free  from  impu- 
rities. 

SPRING    MANAGEMENT. 

This  is  the  season  to  close  the  rear  opening,  or  pas- 
sage-way, perfectly  tight,  and  stop  the  current  of  air 
that  passes  under  the  bees  during  the  winter  months. 
All  the  heat  that  can  be  produced  from  the  rays  of  the 
sun,  will  be  beneficial  during  April  and  May,  at  least, 
and  if  March  be  a  mild,  pleasant  month,  then  also.  If 
it  be  a  raw,  cold,  snowy  month,  let  the  rear  entrance  be 
open,  when  it  is  not  necessary  to  confine  the  bees,  as 
little  or  no  breeding  will  take  place,  if  the  weather  be 
very  chilly  and  cold,  and  the  cooler  the  bees  are  kept 
the  better. 

It  is  supposed  by  many  persons,  that  the  honey-bee 
passes  the  winter  in  «  state  of  hybernation  or  torpidity. 
This  is  a  great  mistake.  I  have  often  seen  my  bees  in 
populous  families,  quite  lively  on  turning  up  the  hives, 
when  the  thermometer  stood  at  zero.  There  is  a  natural 
animal  heat  existing  all  winter,  in  strong  families,  even 
in  the  coldest  weather. 

When  warm  weather  approaches,  in  May,  the  hives 
may  be  raised  to  aflbrd  an  opening  all  round.  These 
directions  are  given,  on  the  supposition,  that  the  hives 
rest  on  pins,  and  in  the  fall  these  pins  are  lowered  into 
holes  in  the  floor-board  made  to  receive  them.  Other 
kinds  of  hives  should»be  managed  as  nearly  on  the  same 
principle  as  possible. 

If  the  hives  are  light,  the  bees  should  be  fed  freely  in 


bee-keeper's  manual.  317 

the  spring.  A  little  ale  or  wine,  and  a  little  fine  salt  mixed 
with  the  honey  or  syrup,  is  good.  A  shilling  spent  in 
feeding,  often  produces  a  dollar  before  the  season  is  over. 

SUMMER  MANAGEMENT. 

After  the  swarming  season  is  over,  nothing  can  be 
done,  of  consequence,  but  to  keep  the  apiary  free  of 
weeds,  and  protect  the  bees,  as  much  as  possible,  from 
the  inroads  of  insects.  From  the  1st  of  July,  to  the  1st  of 
September,  is  the  season  of  spiders  and  the  moth.  Spi- 
ders will  nightly  weave  their  webs  around  the  hives ; 
and  the  apiarian  should  almost  daily  pass  around  the 
apiary  with  a  brush  in  hand,  to  destroy  them.  The  only 
enemies  to  bees  we  have  to  fear  in  this  country,  are  spiders, 
wasps,  king-birds,  and  the  bee-moth.  Wasps  are  of  little 
account.  Spiders  make  sad  havoc,  if  left  undisturbed. 
King-birds  will  destroy  thousands  of  bees  in  a  season,  if 
no  means  are  taken  to  destroy  them ;  but  all  the  above 
enemies  united,  sink  into  insignificance,  when  compared 
with  that  terrible  destroyer,  the  wax  or  bee-moth. 

THE  BEE-MOTH HOW  ERAfilCATED. 

This  insect  is  of  a  whitish,  or  brown  grey  color, 
and  somewhat  smaller,  generally,  than  the  ordinary  mil- 
lers that  flit  around  a  candle  at  evening.  They  are  the 
most  nimble  insect  known.  They  will  dart  among  the 
bees,  in  and  around  the  hive ;  and  before  a  bee  has  time 
to  turn  her  antennae  towards  them,  they  are  out  of  reach. 
If  on^ attempts  to  kill  a  moth  when  resting  by  day,  on 
the  outside  of  the  hive,  by  quickly  putting  his  finger  on 


318  miner's    AMERICAN 

her,  the  act  must  be  instantaneous,  or  she  is  far  away 
before  his  hand  touches  the  place  where  she  rests.  The 
best  way  to  destroy  them,  when  they  can  be  found  out- 
side, is  to  put  on  an  old  mitten  or  glove,  and  striking  very 
suddenly  with  the  flat  of  the  hand,  will  generally  prove 
effectual.  They  may  often  be  found  on  the  outside  of 
hives  during  the  day,  as  the  only  time  that  they  enter 
is  in  the  evening,  or  during  the  night.  They  generally 
seek  some  place  where  they  can  pass  the  day  under 
some  board,  or  any  projection  that  affords  shelter 
under  it. 

Al  evening,  as  soon  as  twilight  appears,  they  com- 
mence flying  around  the  hives,  and  seeking  out  such  as 
are  not  very  populous,  for  their  scenes  of  depredation. 
Having  gained  an  entrance,  they  run  up  the  sides  of  the 
hive,  and  at  the  upper  end,  or  as  near  as  may  be,  they 
at  first  make  an  incision  in  the  propolis  that  is  used  to 
cement  the  corners  and  joints  of  hives,  with  their  ovi- 
positer,  and  in  the  orifice  made,  the  egg  is  deposited,  and 
so  on  until  they  have  finished.  The  heat  of  the  hive 
keeps  the  propolis  in  a  soft,  pliable  state,  and  it  is  ex- 
actly suited  to  their  wants.  In  a  few  days  the  eggs  are 
hatched,  and  small  white  worms  emerge.  These  worms 
grow  very  rapidly,  and  immediately  search  around  for 
food;  and  the  combs  adjoining  are  very  acceptable, 
filled,  as  they  are,  with  honey,  larvae  and  pollen.  The 
bees  have  an  instinctive  hatred  to  these  worms,  which 
prevents  them  from  destroying  them  as  soon  as  hatched. 

Thev  do  not  seem  to  be  aware  of  the  dan2;er  that  will 
anse  from  fhem,  until  they  commence  the  destruction  of 


bee-keeper's  manual.  319 

the  combs.  Having  gained  a  position  in  the  combs,  the 
worms  commence  weaving  a  silken  shroud  around  them- 
selves, to  protect  their  bodies,  leaving  the  head  only 
exposed,  which  is  armed  with  a  helmet  impenetrable  to 
the  sting  of  a  bee.  Protected  in  this  manner,  they  move 
from  cell  to  cell,  eating  as  they  move,  having  only  to 
thrust  out  their  heads  to  find  food  in  any  direction. 
Their  course  is  longitudinally  through  the  centres  of  the 
combs,  seldom  appearing  on  the  surface.  Their  shroud 
for  protection,  is  carried  along  with  them.  Thus  it  will 
be  seen,  how  very  difficult  it  is  for  bees  to  dislodge  this 
enemy,  when  a  footing  is  obtained  by  them. 

There  is  but  one  way  that  they  can  be  destroyed, 
when  fully  fortified  among  the  combs ;  and  that  is,  by 
cementing  them  in  with  propolis.  This  the  bees  will 
sometimes  do,  confining  them  to  very  close  quarters, 
and  when  all  the  food  is  consumed  within  their  reach, 
they  perish.  On  other  occasions,  whole  segments  of 
combs  that  have  become  infected,  are  destroyed  by  the 
bees,  in  order  to  remove  the  evil.  When  the  moth  gets 
the  upper  hand,  and  the  worms  begin  to  increase  rapidly, 
the  bees  stop  all  further  labors,  and  the  condition  of  the 
family  is  readily  known  by  their  inactivity,  and  from 
the  numerous  particles  of  pollen,  comb,  &c.,  upon  the 
bottom-boards  of  the  hives,  caused  by  the  progress  of 
this  insect.  These  particles  are  of  a  dark  color,  and 
are  most  easily  discovered  in  the  morning,  before  the 
winds  arise,  and  before  the  bees  commence  sallying 
out.  For  the  purpose  of  detecting  the  ravages  of  this 
enemy,  hives    having  an  open   entrance  on    all  sides. 


320  miner's    AMERICAN 

either  by  suspending  the  floor-board,  or  resting  the  hives 
thereon,  with  pins  at  the  corners,  are  decidedly  far  pre- 
ferable to  those  on  any  other  plan.  The  moth- worm, 
when  having  free  and  uninterrupted  sway  in  a  hive, 
rich  in  wax  and  honey,  grows  to  a  large  size,  sometimes 
being  an  inch  long,  and  as  large  as  a  pipe-stem.  A  quart 
of  such  worms  will  often  occupy  a  single  hive,  before 
all  the  bees  will  depart. 

INDICATIONS  OF  THE  MOTH BEST  COURSE  TO  PURSUE. 

Every  apiarian  should  closely  watch  his  hives  dm*ing 
the  months  of  July  and  August,  and  any  that  show 
signs  of  the  existence  of  the  moth  therein,  should  be  at- 
tended to  without  delay,  as  the  whole  apiary  might  be- 
come infested  by  this  pest,  arising  from  a  lodgment  in  a 
single  hive.  Every  worm,  after  a  few  days,  must  wind 
up  in  a  cocoon ;  from  which,  a  winged  moth-miller  is- 
sues, able  to  produce  a  thousand  eggs,  each  egg  to  pro- 
duce a  worm,  which,  in  turn,  produces  a  miller,  and  so 
on  until  a  million  of  worms  may  exist  in  one  season, 
from  a  solitary  insect !  If  the  family  be  weak,  and  the 
hive  full  of  combs,  where  the  moth  exists,  the  quicker 
the  combs  are  cut  out,  and  the  bees  dispersed  the  better ; 
or  the  bees  may  be  driven  into  a  super,  by  the  aid  of 
smoke,  and  then  placed  in  a  clean  hive  and  fed,  if  the 
honey  season  be  past,  and  they  will  probably  survive 
the  winter,  if  there  be  a  moderate  family,  and  the  next 
season  they  will  replenish  the  hive  in  numbers,  and  be  as 
valuable  as  any  in  the  apiary.  Another  way,  is  to  join 
the  infected  family  to  a  weak  one,  that  is  not  yet  sub- 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  321 

jected  to  the  ravages  of  the  moth  ;  the  operation  to  be 
performed  as  directed  before,  for  the  union  of  stocks. 
Do  not,  on  any  account,  suffer  any  of  your  famihes  to 
become  fully  destroyed,  before  you  take  measures  to 
remove  the  evil.  Who  among  you,  would  suffer  an 
animal  to  sicken  and  die  of  a  distemper  that  you 
know  to  be  liable  to  spread  to  the  whole  herd  or  flock, 
and  take  no  measures  to  eradicate  the  threatened  evil  ? 
It  would  be  deemed  insanity  on  the  part  of  him  who 
should  let  such  a  case  pass  unheeded ;  yet  the  condition 
of  your  apiary,  when  the  moth  gets  the  upper  hand  of  a 
family  of  bees,  is  a  fair  parallel. 

POPULOUS  FAMILIES  NOT  LIABLE  TO  BE  UNDERMINED. 

There  is,  however,  this  difference  in  the  case,  every 
jjery  strong  and  populous  stock  or  swarm  of  bees  is  not 
liable  to  be  destroyed,  being  able,  by  mere  force  of  num- 
bers, to  prevent  a  lodgment  being  made ;  and  here  lies 
the  grand  secret  of  success  in  the  culture  of  bees ;  to 
ever  keep  our  hives  full  and  populous.  This  is  the 
Alpha  and  the  Omega  of  bee-keeping — the  sine  quel,  non, 
without  which,  all  other  measures  fail.  It  is  the  apia- 
rian's chart — his  polar  star — the  needle  that  never  points 
but  to  success — the  cornerstone,  upon  which  the  whole 
fabric  rests. 

Reader,  have  you  ever  been  importuned  to  pur- 
chase hives  that  were  represented  to  be  "proof  against 
the  moth .?"  Well,  sir,  when  a  perpetual  motion,  the 
philosopher's  stone,  and  a  north-west  passage  to  the 
Pacific  are  discovered,  you  may  believe  such  a  thing 
14* 


322  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

possible — not  before ;  and  even  then,  will  /  be  an  un- 
believer. 

"  How  shall  we  keep  our  hives  full  and  populous  ?" 
says  one.  I  answer,  by  attending  to  the  correct  size  of 
hives  to  begin  with, — not  to  allow  over  swarming — to 
unite  weak  swarms  and  stocks,  and  follow  the  general 
rules  laid  down  in  this  Manual,  and  you  will  find  suc- 
cess easy. 

Swarms  are  not  liable  to  be  attacked  by  the  moth,  for 
the  reason,  that  they  extend  their  area  of  combs  no  fur- 
ther than  they  have  numbers  to  defend  them  ;  hence 
the  proof,  that  populous  families  can  protect  themselves. 
Sweetened  water  or  vinegar,  or  milk  alone,  put  in  white 
vessels,  and  placed  near  the  hives  at  evening,  will  decoy 
the  moth-miller,  and  be  the  means  of  destroying  many. 
Thus  ends  the  duties  of  summer  management. 


CHAPTER    XXIV 


PILLAGE  OF  BEES. 

A  GENTLEMAN  having  a  field  of  com  adjacent  to  his 
premises,  into  which  his  fowls  daily  resorted,  threatening 
serious  ravages  ;  and  to  stop  such  a  catastrophe,  he 
placed  a  measure  of  corn  before  them,  and  kept  it 
constantly  replenished ;  the  consequence  was,  that  his 


bee-keeper's  manual.  323 

fowls  had  no  occasion  to  visit  the  field.  No^v,  ihe  bees 
in  an  apiary,  that  commence  robbing  from  a  neighbor- 
ing hive,  do  so  from  necessity,  not  from  an  innate  prin- 
ciple of  disregard  of  right  and  justice  ;  and  let  the  apia- 
rian but  place  a  trough  of  sjTup  or  of  honey  before  them, 
for  a  few  days,  and  all  pillaging  will  come  to  an  end. 
Some  bee-keepers  think  it  very  unreasonable,  that  they 
should  be  required  to  feed  their  bees,  but  expect  great 
profits  from  them,  without  any  trouble  or  expense  what- 
ever. The  poor  bee  is  not  at  fault  when  she  finds  her 
combs  empty,  and  herself  in  a  starving  condition.  She 
labors  all  that  she  can ;  but  she  cannot  ward  off  the 
storm  and  the  cold  north  winds  that  often  confine  her, 
when  she  would  gladly  be  in  the  fields.  But  six  weeks 
only,  out  of  fifty-two,  does  this  insect  have  to  replenish 
her  hive ;  the  rest  of  the  summer  affording  but  enough 
for  a  daily  supply ;  therefore,  he  who  would  let  his  bees 
perish  for  the  want  of  food,  when  a  cold  and  inclement 
season  has  deprived  them  of  support,  ought  to  be  put  on 
a  short  allowance  himself 

When  bees  commence  robbing  their  neighbors,  the 
hive  attacked  should  be  closed  up  immediately,  on  the 
first  evening  after  the  discovery,  and  remain  so  a  few 
days.  When  it  is  opened,  the  entrance  should  be  so 
diminished,  that  but  a  single  bee  can  enter  at  once,  and 
left  in  this  manner  for  a  w^hile.  This  course  will  gene- 
rally prove  effectual.  Changing  the  entrance  from  front 
to  rear,  wall  sometimes  cause  the  marauders  to  decamp, 
and  it  may  be  necessary,  in  some  instances,  to  remove 
the  hives  robbed,  to  a  new  and  distant  situation ;  but 


324  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

this  should  be  the  last  resort.  When  a  hive  is  being 
robbed,  it  may  be  known  by  the  numerous  bees  that  fly 
around  it,  uttering  an  entirely  different  sound  from  that 
of  bees  while  gathering  honey.  They  seem  to  act  as  if 
they  were  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  show  a  coward- 
ice in  every  motion.  As  evening  approaches,  they  may 
be  seen  to  leave  the  hive  rapidly,  even  after  twilight  sets 
in.  This  is  the  time  to  close  the  entrance.  Robbers 
generally  come  from  one  family,  and  they  may  be  dis- 
covered by  sprinkling  flour  on  them  as  they  emerge, 
and  then  watching  where  they  enter. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 


GUIDE  PLATE,  ETC. 

Instead  of  inserting  guide-combs  or  bars,  as  Dr. 
Bevan  recommends,  to  cause  the  bees  to  build  their 
combs  at  proper  distances ;  I  recommend  the  use  of  an 
invention  of  mine,  termed  a  guide-plate.  It  is  made  of 
tin,  and  is  one  foot  square,  and  sheets  may  be  purchased 
of  just  that  size.  This  plate  just  fills  my  hives,  that 
measure  a  foot  in  diameter.  Having  ascertained  the 
natural  distances  of  combs,  I  have  interstices  cut  in  this 
plate  to  correspond  therewith ;  and  previous  to  my  bees 


bee-keeper's  manual.  325 

swarming,  I  melt  some  bees-wax,  lay  the  plate  over  the 
roof  of  the  hive  on  the  inside,  take  a  brush  and  lay  on  a 
coat  of  wax,  precisely  as  the  merchant  marks  his  bales 
and  boxes  through  a  plate  for  the  purpose.  The  bees 
being  hived,  follow  these  traces  of  wax,  in  building  their 
combs.  I  do  not  suppose  that  every  bee-keeper  will 
obtain  such  a  plate,  yet  it  is  a  great  advantage  and 
benefit ;  and  it  will  repay  its  expence  ten-fold. 

DISTANCES  AND  THICKNESS  OF  COMBS. 

On  measuring  the  combs  in  a  hive  that  were  regularly 
made,  I  found  the  following  result,  viz:  five  worker- 
combs  occupied  a  space  of  five  and  a  half  inches,  the 
space  between  each  being  three-eighths  of  an  inch,  and 
allowing  for  the  same  width  on  each  outer  side,  equals 
six  and  a  quarter  inches,  as  the  proper  diameter  of  a  box 
in  which  _^ye  worker-combs  could  be  built.  According 
to  this  calculation,  a  hive  twelve  inches  in  diameter 
would  allow  of  nine  worker-combs  being  made,  and  have 
a  little  room  to  spare,  since  eleven  and  three-eighths 
inches  is  all  the  space  that  would  be  occupied.  The  di- 
ameter of  worker-combs  averaged  four-fifths  of  an  inch  ; 
and  that  of  drone-combs,  one  and  one-eighth  of  an  inch. 

The  tin  plate  should  be  cut  for  worker-combs  only ; 
the  openings  four-fifths  of  an  inch  wide,  and  the  space 
between  them,  three-eighths  of  an  inch,  leaving  the  two 
outside  interstices  five-eighths  wide,  in  order  to  fill  up 
the  space  of  twelve  inches  with  nine  combs.  The  extra 
space  at  the  sides,  will  allow  the  bees  to  build  two  or 
three  drone-combs,  which  is  sufficient. 


CHAPTER     XXVI. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

In  consequence  of  having  extended  this  work  much 
beyond  its  originally  contemplated  limits,  I  find  myself 
compelled  to  place  the  following  subjects  under  one 
head,  instead  of  discussing  each  in  separate  chapters,  as 
I  would  wish  to  do,  had  I  the  space  to  spare. 

VENTILATION  OF  HIVES. 

The  only  ventilation  that  should,  in  any  case,  be  af- 
forded to  bees,  should  come  from  the  bottom  of  the  hive ; 
and  in  warm  weather,  too  much  air  cannot  be  admitted. 
Here  lies  one  of  the  principal  advantages  of  raising  the 
hives  to  allow  egress  and  ingress,  on  every  side  of  them. 
It  keeps  the  bees  healthy,  and  in  health  they  are  active, 
and  in  activity  they  prospei',  and  their  owner  is  bene- 
fitted by  their  labors.  The  passages  to  the  chambers  or 
supers  being  open,  also  have  a  tendency  to  benefit  the 
bees  in  the  winter  season,  as  before  stated ;  yet  I  do  not 
consider  these  as  legitimate  sources  of  ventilation.  No 
outside  tubes  or  air-holes  should  ever  be  made  in  a  hive 
above  the  bottom. 

PURCHASE  OF  BEES. 

The  months  of  March  and  April  's  the  best  season  to 


bee-keeper's  manual.  327 

purchase  bees ;  yet  it  can  be  done  at  almost  any  time. 
If  the  purchase  be  made  in  the  fall,  all  that  it  is  neces- 
sary to  know  in  regard  to  the  family  is,  whether  it  be 
populous,  and  whether  the  hive  contain  honey  enough 
to  carry  the  bees  safely  through  the  winter.  Turning 
up  the  hive,  will  show  if  it  contain  a  strong  family ;  as 
it  should  be  full  of  combs,  and  the  bees  should  crowd 
the  interstices  down  near  to  the  bottom.  A  sudden  rap 
given  to  it,  with  the  ear  quite  near,  is  an  index  to  their 
strength.  A  strong  family  make  a  long  continued  buzz, 
while  that  of  a  weak  one  is  quick,  sharp,  and  soon  over. 
The  weight  of  the  hive-  will  generally  show  whether 
there  is  honey  enough  within  for  the  winter  supply.  It 
should  weigh  at  least  20  pounds  over  that  of  an  empty 
one. 

TRANSPORTATION  OF  BEES. 

The  transportation  of  bees  in  the  fall,  winter  or  spring, 
is  not  attended  with  difficulty.  The  bottom-boards 
should  be  secured  firmly,  with  sufficient  ventilation ;  and 
then  hives  may  be  placed  in  a  spring- wagon,  and  trans- 
ported almost  to  any  distance.  They  should  be  turned 
bottom  upwards,  if  the  shape  of  the  hive  will  admit  it. 
Ordinary  box-hives  should  have  the  floor-boards  nailed 
on,  and  then  pry  them  off  just  enough  to  admit  the  air, 
and  the  bees  will  go  safely.  I  refer  to  common  hives, 
used  by  those  who  pay  little  or  no  regard  to  improve- 
ment in  such  things ;  and  which  contain  no  means  of 
ventilation,  when  the  floor-boards  are  nailed  close.  In 
the  summer  season,  it  is  more  difficult  to  transport  bees, 


328  MINERS     AMERICAN 

in  consequence  of  the  softness  and  weakness  of  the 
combs,  rendering  them  liable  to  break  down.  Bees 
should  never  be  removed  at  this  season.  In  many  parts 
of  Europe,  the  cottagers  make  a  practice  of  transporting 
bees  from  place  to  place,  as  the  shepherd  does  his  flock, 
from  pasture  to  pasture,  to  obtain  a  fresh  supply  of  food. 
The  bees,  in  such  cases,  are  in  straw  hives,  which 
are  more  easily  transported  than  wooden  ones.  If  hives 
are  to  be  removed  to  any  distance  within  a  mile,  the 
removal  should  take  place  before  the  1st  of  May,  if  pos- 
sible. If  the  distance  be  very  short,  they  should  not, 
under  any  circumstances,  be  left  longer  than  the  early 
part  of  April,  as  when  their  habits  become  once  formed 
in  any  particular  situation,  many  will  return  to  the  same 
place,  when  removed  to  a  new  situation  within  a  mile. 

COMBS  LIABLE  TO  MELT  DOWN. 

During  very  warm  weather,  if  bees  are  fully  exposed 
to  the  force  of  the  rays  of  the  sun,  there  is  some  danger 
of  combs  melting.  I  never  had  any  melt  in  the  lower 
sections  of  my  hives,  but  I  have  in  the  supers.  I  gene- 
rally protect  every  hive ;  but  in  this  case,  I  left  one  ex- 
posed, when  the  sun  was  most  intensely  powerful,  and 
the  loaded  combs  fell  from  their  attachments  in  conse- 
quence of  the  heat. 

DISABLED  BEES. 

I  ought  to  have  mentioned  in  the  chapter  on  swarm- 
ing, that  during  the  height  of  the  breeding  season,  hun- 
dreds of  bees  may  be  seen  running  to  and  fro  upon  the 


bee-keepek's  manual.  329 

ground,  endeavoring  to  rise  on  the  wing,  but  cannot. 
To  the  experienced  bee-keeper,  this  is  no  news ;  but  I 
make  mention  of  it  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  inex- 
perienced in  bee-culture,  and  who  might,  perhaps,  be 
led  to  think,  that  a  deadly  strife  was  going  on  in  the 
apiary.  Such  bees  as  are  seen  under  these  circum- 
stances, are  imperfect  or  disabled,  and  come  into  ex- 
istence with  a  broken  wing  or  leg,  or  possess  some 
imperfection,  that  consigns  them  to  immediate  ejection 
from  the  hive. 

DISEASES  OF  BEES. 

Long  epistles  have  been  written  upon  this  subject,  and 
more,  as  I  have  thought,  to  fill  up,  and  swell  the  pages 
of  works  on  the  bee,  than  to  benefit  the  public,  by 
stating  interesting  facts.  I  shall  simply  say,  that 
we  need  not  trouble  ourselves  in  the  least,  about 
" dysentery,"  " vertigo,"  " ttunefaction  of  the  antennae'' 
"  faux  convain,"  &c.  All  we  have  to  do  is,  to  afford 
our  bees  a  plenteous  infusion  of  pure  air,  at  the  bottom 
of  the  hives  during  summer  and  winter,  and  see  that 
famine  is  not  at  their  door,  and  the  foregoing  diseases 
will  all  vanish  from  our  apiaries. 

ARCHITECTURE  OF  BEES. 

The  skill  and  mathematical  knowledge  exhibited  by 
the  bee  in  her  architecture  has  astonished  philosophers 
and  scientific  men  of  every  age.  It  has  been  iully  demon- 
strated, that  the  same  space  occupied  by  their  cells  cannot 
possibly  be  filled  with  any  shaped  vessels,  that  will  either 


330  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

beof  greater  capacity, or  take  less  material  in  the  construc- 
tion. There  are  but  three  ways  in  which  cells  can  be 
built,  and  have  the  sides  of  all  equal,  viz :  square,  trian- 
gular and  hexagonal;  o.  fourth  way  is  utterly  impossible. 
The  hexagonal  form  is  superior  to  either  of  the  other 
modes,  in  strength,  capacity,  and  a  saving  of  materials 
in  building ;  and  this  form,  the  bee  has  chosen  !  The 
hee,  did  I  say  ?  No :  there  is  a  greater  Architect  than 
the  bee,  who  has  had  the  guidance  and  the  direction  in 
this  m?**er. 


The  above  cut  represents  a  few  rows  of  cells  as  they 
appear  when  constructed.  These  cells  are  not  built 
horizontally,  but  on  an  angle.  Here,  again,  is  the  most 
astonishing  wisdom  displayed.  A  celebrated  philosopher 
and  mathematician  being  asked  of  what  form  a  series  of 
vessels  united,  should  be  constructed,  in  order  to  be  of 
the  greatest  possible  capacity,  and  take  the  least  possible 
material  to  construct  them ;  after  a  full  investigation,  he 
answered ;  the  shape,  hexagonal,  and  on  an  inclination 
of  some  28*=*,  (I  think.)  with  the  plane  of  the  horizon  ! 
The  cells  of  the  honey-bee  incline  from  15  to  28°;  that 
is,  the  mouths  of  cells  are  so  much  higher  than  the  bases. 
This  inclination  is  not  wholly  for  the  purpose  of  saving 
material,  but  also  for  the  purpose  of  retaining  the  honey 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL. 


3&1 


better.      Ordinary  brood-combs  incline  the  least,  and 
store  combs  the  most. 

One  of  the  most  wonderful  features  pertaining  to  the 
construction  of  combs  is,  the  manner  of  their  junction 
with  opposite  cells.  Instead  of  the  dividing  line  between 
them  being  a  straight  line,  thus  : 


it  is  of  the  following  form,  and  a  pyramidical  cavity- 


is  formed  at  the  base  of  each  cell,  composed  of  three  tri- 
angular rhombs,  or  portions  of  wax,  at  the  apex  of  which, 
the  union  of  three  opposite  cells  meet. 


The  above  cut  shows  the  pyramidal  bases  of  four 
cells ;  the  apex  of  one  in  a  cavity,  pointing  from  the 
reader,  being  the  centre,  and  the  other  three  toicards 
him.  If  the  cut  were  reversed,  and  the  other  side  made 
to  appear,  it  would  show  three  cavities,  similar  to  the 
centre  one.  and  that  now  in  the  centre,  would  appear 
like  each  of  the  other  portions  of  the  illustration.  In 
the  apex  of  the  cavity,  the  egg  is  deposited ;  being  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  receive  it. 

I  have  often  closely  examined  cells  to  ascertain  if  I 
could  discover  any  variation  in  this  rule,  and  I  have 


832  miner's    AMERICAN 

ever  found  the  union  of  opposite  cells,  to  be  formed  in 
the  centre  of  the  base  of  every  cell  thus  examined  ! 

It  is  said,  that  the  hexagonal  shape  of  cells,  is  not  in 
consequence  of  any  pre-determined  action  of  the  bees, 
so  to  form  them ;  but  the  result  of  the  mechanical  laws 
governing  the  natural  pressure  of  bodies  of  united  sphe- 
rical tubes,  in  a  pliable  and  soft  condition,  before  be- 
coming hardened  by  an  exposure  to  the  atmosphere,  and 
that  the  original  form  and  shape  of  cells  is  cylindrical. 
I  must  put  in  my  veto  to  this  assumption.  I  have 
shaken  bees  out  of  hives  while  in  the  very  act  of  comb- 
building  ;  and  have  had  a  fair  opportunity  to  examine 
combs,  while  yet  warm  from  the  internal  heat  generated 
by  the  bees,  and  I  have  always  found  them  of  the  regular 
hexagonal  shape. 

The  first  built,  are  brood-combs,  in  order  to  give  an 
immediate  opportunity  to  increase  the  family.  Small 
families  begin  at  the  side,  and  strong  ones  in  the  centre 
of  the  hive.  Sometimes  a  strong  swarm  will  commence 
on  both  sides  at  the  same  time ;  and  it  is  not  unfre- 
quent,  that  while  a  portion  of  the  bees  are  building 
from  front  to  rear,  another  portion  will  be  constructing 
combs  transversely,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  hive, 
and  do  not  discover  their  mistake  till  they  meet  the 
other  combs,  when  a  right  angle  is  at  once  formed.  This 
accounts  for  so  much  irregularity  in  comb-building,  and 
it  is  a  strong  reason  for  the  use  of  the  guide-plate  before 
spoken  of,  or  of  inserting  guide-combs  on  both  sides,  or 
in  the  middle  of  the  hive  for  very  strong  swarms,  as 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  333 

breeding  is  greatly  retarded  by  the   malformation  of 
combs. 

The  outer  edges  of  the  mouths  of  cells  are  strength- 
ened and  fortified  by  a  border  of  wax,  much  thicker  than 
the  sides,  which  prevents  the  entrance  from  being  a 
regular  hexagon.  This  border  seems  to  be  of  a  diffe- 
rent material  from  the  substance  that  the  cells  are  com- 
posed of,  and  of  the  nature  of  a  peculiar  kind  of  varnish. 

The  depth  of  ordinary  worker-cells  is  seven-sixteenth, 
and.  that  of  drone-cells,  nine-sixteenths  of  an  inch;  and 
the  depth  of  store-cells,  from  half  an  inch,  up  to  three 
inches.  There  are  but  two  diameters  for  the  cells  of 
the  honey-bee,  throughout  the  whole  world !  One  is 
for  brood-combs,  and  the  other,  for  drone-combs ;  the 
store-cells  always  being  of  the  diameter  of  drone-cells. 
This  law  is  as  immutable  as  the  adamantine  hills.  Take 
whatever  countries  you  please,  England,  Russia,  China, 
Africa,  Patagonia,  Mexico,  or  the  United  States,  and 
not  one  iota  difference  can  be  found,  if  ten  thousand 
families  were  examined ! 

The  cut  on  the  next  page  represents  a  segment  of 
worker-comb,  containing  eggs  and  larvae ;  also  a  full- 
sized  queen-cell,  and  one  but  partly  constructed.  The 
nature  of  queen-cells  having  been  defined  at  page  28,  it 
will  not  be  necessary  here  to  say  much  in  regard  to 
their  construction.  This  cut  gives  a  better  idea  of  the 
natural  appearance  of  royal  cells,  as  they  actually  appear, 
than  the  previous  illustration. 

The  centre  of  the  combs  shows  a  row  of  cells,  in 
which  the  egg  first  appears  ;  then  the  larvae  just  bursting 


S34 


MINER  S    AMERICAN 


its  shroud  from  the  egg ;  then,  as  it  appears  one  day 
older,  and  so  on,  until  the  cells  are  sealed  over,  being 
from  the  fourth  to  the  sixth  day  after  the  deposit  of  the 
egg.  Adjoining  this  tier  of  cells,  may  be  seen  those  in 
progress  of  being  sealed  over ;  which  operation  is  effected 


bee-keeper's  manual.  335 

by  commencing  at  the  outer  side  of  each,  and  attaching 
numerous  small  rings  of  wax,  one  within  the  other,  until 
the  whole  area  is  covered.  Above  this  section  of  the 
comb,  containins;  cells  beinsr  sealed  over,  mav  be  seen 
a  portion  of  cells  fully  sealed,  and  from  which  the  young 
brood  emerge,  in  the  course  of  about  fifteen  days  after 
being-  thus  imprisoned.  On  the  outer  skirts,  may  be 
seen  the  vacant  cells,  not  yet  appropriated  to  any  use. 

There  is  no  distinction  made  in  a  leaf  of  brood-comb, 
in  regard  to  what  cells  shall  be  used  for  honey,  pollen, 
or  brood.  The  queen  deposits  her  eggs  wherever  she 
finds  vacant  cells,  provided  the  family  be  populous ;  but 
if  not  populous,  then  she  takes  a  very  different  course, 
and  confines  her  laying  exclusively  to  the  centre  of  the 
hive,  and  to  the  centres  of  combs,  near  the  top  of  the 
tenement. 

In  speaking  of  store-combs,  I  refer  to  combs  built  ex- 
pressly for  that  purpose,  of  a  thick,  irregular  form.  The 
whole  interior  of  the  hive  is  used  for  storing  honey,  when 
the  cells  are  not  filled  with  bee-brood  or  larvae. 

INSTINCT  OF  BEES. 

The  knowledge  that  the  bee  possesses,  as  displayed  in 
her  achitecture,  and  general  economy,  is  not  acquired 
by  habit,  or  taught  her  by  those  older  than  herself  She 
comes  into  the  world,  as  perfect  as  she  goes  out  of  it. 
Many  are  the  astonishing  instances  of  foresight  and 
knowledge,  of  adapting  means  to  ends,  that  have  come 
under  my  personal  observation ;  but  I  can  give  but  tv/o 
or  three  of  the  most  important  cases  on  this  occasion. 


336  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

which  will  suffice  to  show  the  general  features  of  her 
sagacity  or  instinctive  powers. 

On  a  certain  occasion,  I  attached  a  large  sheet  ot 
comb  in  a  hive,  for  the  use  of  a  fannily,  that  I  was  about 
driving  into  it.  Some  two  or  three  days  after  the  bees 
had  been  placed  therein,  I  discovered  that  a  lateral 
brace  had  been  constructed,  from  the  side  of  the  hive, 
to  the  lower  end  of  the  comb.  This  brace  was  built, 
in  consequence  of  my  getting  the  comb  out  of  its  per- 
pendicular position  several  times,  while  turning  over 
the  hive  to  examine  the  bees.  The  bees  reasoned  thus : 
"  He  is  turning  our  hive  over  every  day,  and  our  comb 
bends,  and  leans  over ;  by  and  by,  it  will  break  off,  so 
we'll  build  a  brace  across  to  hold  it !"  On  another  oc- 
casion, I  laid  a  sheet  of  comb,  filled  with  honey,  on  the 
floor  of  the  chamber  of  the  hive,  covering  several  of 
the  holes  of  communication  with  the  family  below.  I 
placed  it  there  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  the  bees.  A 
few  days  thereafter,  I  was  surprised  to  find  this  sheet 
raised  three-eighths  of  an  inch,  and  supported  on 
four  pillars  built  of  wax!  This  was  done  to  give  the 
bees  an  opportunity  to  pass  up  through  the  holes  with 
facility.  The  honey  had  been  taken  away.  But  the 
most  astonishing  performance  that  was  ever  placed  on 
record,  as  I  believe,  occurred  as  follows :  Having  an 
entrance  to  one  of  my  hives,  about  two  inches  long,  and 
half  an  inch  wide,  that  was  covered  with  a  thin  strip  of 
wood,  with  a  nail  at  one  end,  to  hold  it  in  its  position,  I 
was  accustomed 'to  turn  up  the  door  or  cover,  perpen- 
dicularly, as  I  passed  the  hive  and  found  it  closed.    Tlie        * 


bee-keeper's  manual.  337 

bees  had  no  particular  use  of  this  passage-way,  as  they 
had  abundant  egress  below;  yet,  it  being  warm  weather, 
I  kept  the  cover  up,  as  much  as  possible.  It  got  so 
loose  by  turning  it  up,  that  it  would  often  fall  down  of 
its  own  gravity ;  and  not  thinking  the  matter  of  suffi- 
cient importance  to  secure  it  at  once,  I  turned  it  up 
daily,  for  about  a  week,  and  every  morning  I  would  find 
it  down  again.  At  last  I  turned  it  up,  and  out  rushed 
about  a  hundred  bees,  and  commenced  clustering  around 
it  in  a  very  singular  manner,  and  I  left  them  and  went 
to  town.  Not  returning  until  evening,  I  could  not  see 
what  the  result  was  before  the  next  morning,  when  I 
went  out  to  the.  hive,  and  found  the  cover  to  the  open- 
ing so  'deeply  imbedded  in  propolis,  that  it  could  not  he 
easily  removed  !  !  It  appeared  that  the  bees  wished  to 
have  this  hole  open,  and  finding  that  it  was  down  one 
day  and  up  the  next  one,  they  thought  that  they  would 
put  a  stop  to  it  at  once,  and  they  did  so.  I  leave  the 
reader  to  his  own  reflections  on  these  instances  of  sa- 
gacity manifested  in  this  insect.  I  could  recount  many 
more  astonishing  operations  of  the  bee,  but  I  am  ad- 
monished to  be  brief. 

.  LONGEVITY  OF  BEES. 

The  age  of  workers  is  generally  under  one  year.  This 
fact  is  easily  proved,  by  placing  a  family  in  a  large  hive, 
that  does  not  admit  of  swarms  issuing.  It  will  contain 
no  more  bees  during  the  succeeding  years,  than  during 
the  first  season,  or  but  a  few  more,  at  most.  Numbers 
equalling  the  increase  of  each  season  die  off  before 
15 


338  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

another  season  approaches.  The  drones  live  five  or  six 
months,  generally,  when  left  to  die  a  natural  death ;  and 
on  some  occasions  longer,  but  not  often.  The  queen 
lives  the  longest  of  any  of  the  family,  often  surviving  to 
sally  out  at  the  head  of  several  swarms.  Her  exact 
natural  age  has  never  yet  been  demonstrated. 

ANGER  OF  BEES. 

The  honey-bee  will  seldom  use  her  sting  against  anj 
one  when  not  molested,  and  children,  in  particulai",  are 
exempt.  When  a  bee  is  aroused  to  anger,  she  gives 
immediate  notice  of  it,  and  no  person  was  ever  stung, 
unless  in  the  midst  of  hundreds,  excited  to  vengeance, 
without  having  timely  warning  given  him.  Every  bee- 
keeper is  familiar  with  the  shrill  sound  emitted,  when 
the  bee  approaches  in  a  threatening  attitude.  It  is  quite 
unlike  the  soft  song  of  contentment,  that  is  sung  as  the 
bees  return  from  the  fields  laden  with  honey.  I  have 
never  heard  of  any  fatal  consequences  arising  from  the 
stings  of.  bees,  except  in  animals.  Tf  a  horse  or  a  cow, 
or  any  other  animal  upset  a  hive,  it  is  generally  certain 
death.  In  case  of  being  dangerously  stung  in  many 
places,  tobacco,  as  before  stated,  is  worth  more  than  all 
other  remedies  in  the  world.  The  duratioia  of  the  anger 
of  bees,  is  from  three  days  to  a  week;  and  any  operation 
disturbing  them  much,  will  not  be  entirely  forgotten, 
short  of  that  time.  Private  injuries  are  seldom  resented 
by  them;  that  is,  when  molested  in  the  fields. 

LANGUAGE  OF  BEES. 

That  bees  have  the  means  of  imparting  information 


bee-keeper's  manual.  339 

from  one  lo  another,  is  beyond  doubt.  By  what  means 
it  is  done,  has  never  been  fully  established ;  yet  it  is 
pretty  generally  admitted,  that  it  is  by  means  of  the  an- 
tennae. The  antennae  are  also  the  organs  of  smell,  and 
of  recognition  of  bees  of  the  same,  or  different  families. 
Besides  the  antennae  as  a  medium  of  communication,  a 
certain  noise  produced  by  the  wings,  is  another  mode 
of  imparting  knowledge,  as  I  alluded  to,  in  regard  to 
families  finding  their  hive,  when  dislodged,  and  their 
tenement,  with  a  portion  ojf  the  family,  being  removed 
to  a  distant  situation.  Having  a  swarm  that  lay  out 
upon  a  sheet  one  night,  and  exposed  to  a  drenching 
shower,  I  found  them  in  the  morning  with  only  the  out- 
side bees  drenched,  and  the  majority  were  in  a  condi- 
tion to  be  hived.  There  were  several  clusters  of  them, 
and  having  made  the  larger  portions  enter  the  hive,  I 
aroused  the  small  ones,  within  a  few  feet  of  it,  and  as 
quick  as  the  hive  was  perceived  by  them,  and  a  portion 
of  the  bees  entering,  they  commenced  fluttering  their 
wings,  and  started  rapidly  towards  it.  Other  clusters 
that  lay  perfectly  still,  when  the  first  one  gave  the  sound, 
instantly  started  from  their  lethargy,  and  followed  their 
companions  into  the  hive.  Here  is  positive  proof,  that 
the  sound  emitted  or  produced,  was  a  call  to  enter  the 
hive,  or  giving  infoi'mation  of  one  being  at  hand. 

Although  out  of  place,  1  will  here  give  an  omission 
in  the  chapter  on  swarming,  which  led  to  my  having  a 
swarm  of  bees  lying  out  all  night.  It  is  said,  that  in  ex- 
tensive bee-gardens  in  Poland,  where  many  swarms  issue 
at  the  same  time,  and  preclude  the  possibility  of  hiving 


340  MINER  S    AMERICAN 

thera  separately,  that  the  bees  are  kept  till  evening  in 
large  boxes,  and  then  emptied  out  on  cloths  or  sheets 
in  different  parcels;  and  that  during  the  night,  the  dif- 
ferent queens  will  have  collected  a  cluster  around  each 
of  them,  when  the  diflerent  families  may  be  hived.  This 
appeared  so  reasonable  to  me,  that  I  attempted  it  the 
last  season,  for  the  first  time;  and  a  heavy  shower  came 
up  suddenly,  and  frustrated  my  experiment.  1  had  no 
otlier  opportunity  to  try  it  again,  but  I  have  no  doubt  of 
its  being  practicable. 

Every  person  that  is  familiar  with  bees  has,  undoubt- 
edly, seen  them  of  a  sudden  commence  the  vibration  of 
iheir  wings,  standing  perfectly  still  in  the  mean  time. 
This  motion  is  generally  supposed  to  be  an  expression 
of  joy,  and  the  only  manner  in  which  they  can  manifest 
it.  1  have  carefully  watched  for  the  cause  of  this  mo- 
tion of  their  wings,  and  my  own  experience  leads  me  to 
believe,  that  the  above  reason  is  a  correct  one.  I  will 
give  a  single  proof  Having  greatly  disturbed  a  family 
by  lurning  up  the  hive,  and  removing  it,  by  which 
means,  large  numbers  of  bees  got  astray,  flying  around 
in  confusion,  and  on  returning  it  to  the  stand,  the  bees 
immediately  Hocked  aiound  it,  and  alighting  on  the  floor- 
board, commenced  the  vibration  of  their  wings,  as  above 
r-lated  ;  and  so  continued  some  minutes.  This  satisfied 
me,  that  it  was  a  sensation  of  pleasure  on  again  finding 
their  home.  This  is  but  one,  out  of  many  instances  of 
the  same  nature,  that  I  have  witnessed. 


BEE-KEEPER  S    MANUAL.  341 

BEES-WAX HOW  MADE, 

The  nature  of  wax  has  already  been  discussed.  My 
object  now  is,  to  show  the  inexperienced  bee-keeper, 
how  to  make  the  article  from  the  combs.  The  combs 
are  cut  out  of  the  hives,  the  honey  secured ;  and  then 
they  are  ready  for  the  kettle.  Break  them  in  small 
pieces,  or  press  them  into  as  small  a  compass  as  possible, 
and  put  them  into  a  woollen  bag.  Put  the  bag  into  the 
kettle,  or  vessel  of  water  that  is  to  be  set  over  the  fire, 
and  with  a  flat  stone,  or  some  other  weight,  sink  the  bag 
to  the  bottom.  Boil  the  water  about  half  an  hour,  then 
take  out  the  bag,  and  set  the  water  aside  to  cool.  The 
wax  will  rise  to  the  surface.  The  cake  of  wax  on  the 
surface  if  containing  impurities,  may  be  put  into  a  clean 
bag,  and  the  second  process  over  the  fire,  will  render  it 
quite  clean  and  pure,  and  by  melting  again  in  some  con- 
venient vessel,  it  may  be  turned  into  cups  of  any  shape, 
first  greasing  them  a  little,  and  when  cool,  the  cakes  wil. 
come  out  without  adhering  in  the  least. 


D.  H.  HILL  LIBRARY 

North  CaroHn?  State  College 


APPENDIX 


MINER'S  PATENT  EQUILATERAL  BEEHIVE. 

In  consequence  of  the  improvement  in  the  ornamental  portion  of 
the  above  hive  not  being  completed,  when  the  original  cut  was 
inserted  in  this  work,  at  page  181,1  have  concluded  to  liave  it  ap- 
pear in  an  Appendix.  This  is  precisely  the  same  hive  as  that  at 
page  181,  except  in  its  embellishments.  The  size  and  shape  are 
the  same  ;  but  it  is  drawn  on  a  smaller  scale,  than  the  other.  I 
consider  this  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  hives  in  every  point.  Nothing  of 
the  kind  can  compare  wiih  it  in  beauty,  or  in  practical  value.     I 


APPENDIX.  343 

do  not  say  this  because  I  am  interested  :  but  I  say  itjrom  a  solemn 
conviction  of  the  truth  of  the  assertion,  after  having  either  seen  or 
used  almost  every  other  style  of  hive  in  existence. 

The  great  value  of  this  hive  lies,  in  its  internal  arrangement. 
The  nine  communications  from  the  lower  to  the  upper  section,  are 
opened  and  closed  at  pleasure,  in  an  instant,  by  one  of  the  most 
simple  and  valuable  inventions  imaginable.  By  the  use  of  this,  in 
connection  with  other  features  pertaining  to  no  other  hive,  the  man- 
agement of  bees  is  divested  of  every  difficulty.  Bees  in  this  hive 
may  be  fed,  in  case  of  need,  with  as  much  ease  as  a  flock  of  poul- 
try. They  must  be  fed  sometimes,  when  the  season  has  proved 
unpropitious,  but  the  expense  is  not  as  many  shillings  as  they  will 
bring  in  dollars,  the  first  good  season  that  occurs. 

This  hive  is  intended  to  occupy  any  situation  that  other  hives 
do  :  either  on  a  shelf  or  stool.  It  has  a  beveled  bottom-board,  thus 
doing  away  with  the  necessity  of  suspensioyi.  This  kind  of  bottom- 
board  is  of  my  own  invention,  as  well  as  every  part  of  the  hive, 
and  as  the  right  is  secured  for  this,  as  well  as  for  that  represented 
at  page  181,  it  cannot  be  constructed  except  by  virtue  of  a  right 
from  me.  I  have  made  great  improvements  in  several  hives,  and 
which  others,  perhaps,  would  also  have  secured,  but  I  place  them 
before  the  public  in  this  work,  for  their  free  use  and  benefit ;  but 
in  the  hive  now  in  question,  I  shall  claim,  and  defend  my  title 
thereto;  even  an  imitation  of  it  externallif,  will  not  pass  with  hn- 
punity. 

Besides  the  advantages  before  stated,  is  that  of  resting  the  hive 
on  pinions  during  summer,  and  when  cold  weather  arrives,  by  mov- 
ing it  a  quarter  of  an  inch,  the  whole  opening  is  instantly  closed, 
except  a  space  of  two  inches  in  front,  and  the  same  in  the  rear, 
both  of  w^hich  have  perforated  slides,  so  that  the  bees  may  be  en- 
closed at  pleasure,  with  a  gentle  current  of  air  under  them.  Thfs 
mode  of  arrangement  is  origiinal  with  me,  and  perhaps  I  do  myself 
great  injustice  to  give  publicity  to  it,  as  I  have  done  heretofore  in 
this  work  ;  yet  I  claim  it,  with  the  foregoing  hive,  as  a  part  of  my 
invention,  together  with  the  beveled  bottom-board,  and  the  use  of 
eitlier  would  be  an  infringement  of  my  rights ;  yet  in  these  two 
points,  as  valuable  as  I  consider  them,  I  shall  not  expect  the  pub- 
lic to  be  limited  in  their  use  of  them,  so  long  as  my  general  rights 
in. the  Equilateral  Hive  are  not  invaded. 

This  style  of  hive  should  be  painted  white,  as  that  color  has 
much  the  best  appearance  on  ornamental  objects.  The  chocolate 
color  recommended  for  other  hives,  relates  to  cases  where  they  are 
merely  painted  as  a  protection  against  the  weather. 


344 


APPENDIX. 


Here  is  a  pedestal  of  corresponding  architecture,  and  who  will 
say,  that  a  hive  surmounting  it,  and  placed  in  the  flower-garden, 
would  not  be  a  beautiful  ornament  ?  If  I  had  to  live  on  a  short 
allowance  of  food  for  a  year,  in  order  to  possess  a  hive  and  pedes- 
tal of  this  kind,  I  would  do  it,  if  no  other  means  would  obtain  them. 
But  let  such  as  have  no  taste  for  the  elegant  and  beautiful,  have 
hives  of  a  more  common  order.  This  work  will  suit  every  taste. 
The  pedestal  does  not  go  with  the  hive,  as  a  necessary  appendage; 
neither  does  the  urn,  nor  the  dental  course.  The  hive  may  be 
made  perfectly  plain,  if  desired,  at  the  cost  of  ordinary  hives,  and 
still  possess  all  its  practical  advantages. 

The  reader  is  referred  to  my  advertisement  for  the  price  of  this 
hive,  &c.,  in  the  sequel  to  this  work. 


INDEX. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  aUEEN. 

When  seen,  and  how  found,  6.  Sting  of  the  queen,  6.  Her  fecun- 
dation, 7.  Huber,  the  great  ["?!  apiarian,  S.  Huber's  authority  doubt- 
ed, 11.  Huish's  opinion  of  Huber,  12.  Queen's  flight  to  meet  the 
males,  15.  Analogy  proves  impregnation  on  the  wing,  16.  Huber 
confines  queens  to  prove  the  theory  of  impregnation  on  the  wing,  16. 
Retarded  impregnation,  17. 

CHAPTER  n. 
WORKERS. 

The  effects  of  a  sudden  storm  on  bees,  23.  Sex  of  workers,  25. 
Workers  said  to  be  sometimes  fertile,  26.  Fertile  workers,  and  the 
power  of  workers  to  produce  queens  from  ordinary  worker-eggs,  27. 
Kind  of  eggs  laid  by  the  queen,  27.  Royal  cells,  how  constructed,  28. 
How  young  queens  are  produced,  the  number  of  royal  cells  in  a  hive, 
etc.,  29.  Different  food  provided  for  the  young  queens,  30.  The  for- 
mation of  a  new  queen  in  the  place  of  one  that  dies,  or  is  lost,  32. 
The  supposed  cause  of  the  formation  of  fertile  workers,  33.  A  case  of 
retarded  impregnation  in  the  queen,  or  of  fertile  workers,  coming 
under  the  author's  own  observation,  3-1.  Difficulty  of  effecting  the 
impregnation  of  queens  at  particular  seasons,  40.  Fertile  workers 
never  exist,  except  in  cases  of  a  failure  to  produce  a  queen,  41. 

CHAPTER  III. 

DRONES. 

Natural  uses  of  drones,  43.  Cause  of  the  existence  of  so  many 
drones,  45.  Impregnation  operative  for  life,  46.  Visionary  alleged 
uses  of  drones,  48.  Huish  encounters  a  savan  bee-keeper,  50.  When 
drones  appear  and  disappear,  51.  Drones  go  forth  to  meet  the  queen, 
54.  Danger  of  the  queen  being  lost  during  her  excursion,  55.  Huish's 
vagaries  relative  to  the  use  of  drones,  55.  The  conflicting  opinions 
and  theories  of  other  writers  disregarded,  56.  Particular  instances  of 
drones  being  allowed  to  live  through  the  winter,  57.  The  old  ([ueen 
always  goes  off  with  the  first  swarm,  59.  Drones  said  to  die  immedi- 
ately after  coition,  61.     The  general  massacre  of  drones,  61. 


346  INDEX. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

EGGS LARViE TIME  TO  DEVELOP,   ETC. 

Drone-eggs,  when  laid,  69.  Royal  cells  constructed  simultaneously 
with  drone-egg  laying,  70.  The  operation  of  laying  described,  71. 
Time  that  eggs  remain  in  the  cells,  72.  Larvae,  how  long  fed,  when 
sealed  over,  etc.,  72.  Period  of  development,  etc.,  73.  Number  of 
bees  ia  a  hive,  73.  Relative  proportion  of  drones,  75.  Young  queens 
produce  few  or  no  drone-brood,  70.     Position  of  eggs  and  larvae,  76. 

CHAPTER  V. 

DIVISION  OF   LABOR  OF  BEES. 

Division  of  labor  proved,  79.  Pollen  and  propolis  gatherers,  etc.,  81. 
Bees  gather  from  one  kind  of  flower  only  during  the  same  excursion, 
81.     Sentinels, '81.    The  wonderful  operations  of  ventilating  bees !  82. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

BLACK  BEES. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

POLLEN,  OR  BEE-BREAD. 

Bee-bread  injurious  when  stored  in  surplus  quantities,  87.  Color  of 
bee-bread,  different  colors  kept, distinct,  87.  How  fed  to  larvae,  88. 
Cells  only  partly  filled  with  pollen,  88. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

WATER  AND  ITS   USES. 

How  furnished  to  bees,  90.  Experimental  evidence  of  the  use  of 
water,  91.  Singular  discovery  in  regard  to  the  use  of  water  on  very 
windy  and  wet  days,  91.  The  use  that  bees  make  of  water,  92.  Water 
used  in  wet  weather  abundantly,  93.  Decrease  and  final  termination 
of  the  use  of  water,  94.  A  close  fence  around  the  apiary  necessary  in 
certain  cases,  95. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

SALT HOW  TO  BE  USED. 

Salt  put  under  the  edges  of  hives,  90.     Salt  necessary  for  bees,  98. 

CHAPTER  X. 
PROPOLIS. 

Huber's  opinion  on  propolis,  100     Propolis  an  elaborated  substance, 

lUl. 


347 


CHAPTER  XI. 

WAX. 

Honey  and  pollen  the  only  substance  that  bees  gather,  103.  Apia- 
rians contend  that  wax  is  made  of  pollen,  104.  Pollen  admitted  to  be 
a  component  part  of  ordinary  bees-wax,  105,  Bees  when  swarming, 
go  laden  with  honey,  106.  A  few  bees  join  the  swarm  with  pellets  of 
farina,  107.  No  pollen  gathered  the  first  day  or  two  after  swarming, 
107.  Chemical  change  of  honey  to  wax,  107.  Experiment  showing 
further  proof  that  wax  is  produced  from  honey,  109.  The  experiments 
of  Huber,  showing  that  bees  work  in  wax  when  confined,  and  fed  on 
honey  or  sugar  only,  110. 


PART    SECOND 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

REMARKS. 

CHAPTER  Xin. 


Size  of  hives,  119.  Space  necessary  for  swarms,  120.  Number  of 
workers  advantageously  employed,  120.  A  lack  of  workers  disastrous 
to  the  family,  121.  Effects  of  too  small  and  too  large  hives,  123.  The 
instinct  and  nature  of  the  bee  unchangeable,  12-5.  Result  of  the  Au- 
thor's experience  in  large  hives,  126.  Hives  diminished  in  length, 
128.  Small  hives  not  appropriate  for  small  swarms,  130.  Change 
from  large  to  small  hives,  deceptive  appearances  of  swarms,  etc.,  135. 
Dr.  Bevan's  opinion  on  the  size  of  hives,  137.  Sevan's  cross-bar  hive, 
13S.  Subtended  hive,  141.  Hobby  of  a  portion  of  the  itinerant  bee- 
hive venders,  142.  Two  kinds  of  subtended  hives,  143.  Rules  for 
management  in  subtended  hives,  143.  Case  in  which  two  or  more 
boxes  may  be  used,  150.  Remarks  on  super  and  nadir  hiving,  151. 
Box-hive  and  super.  153.  Chamber  hive,  158.  Suspended  cham- 
ber hives,  161.  Roof  for  suspendei  hives,  163.  Side  view  of  a 
chamber  hive,  167.  Second  plan  of  suspended  hives,  170.  Townly's 
hive,  172.  Colton's  do.  17S.  Gaylord  &  Tucker's  do.  178.  Week's 
Vermont  do.  17.'>.  View  of  do.  176.  Straw  hives,  ISO.  Log  do.  ISO. 
Miner's  equilateral  hive,  (first  style,)  18 1.  Collateral  hiving,"etc.  1S5. 
Relative  merits  of  supering,  etc.,  187.  Collateral  hives  joined,  18S. 
Bees  remaining  in  collateral  hives,  how  got  rid  of,  etc.  1S9.  Case  in 
which  a  transfer  from  old  to  new  combs  may  be  effected,  190.  Only 
one  super  to  be  put  on  at  a  time,  190.  Boxes  in  chambers  not  likely 
to  be  filled  twice,  191.  Time  to  take  away  supers,  191.  How  to  drive 
bees  from  the  boxes,  etc.,  192.  Observatory  hive,  193.  Rubers  Obser- 
vatory, do.  198.    European  hives,  203.-   Polish  hives,  204.    Directions 


348  INDEX. 

for  making  hives,  204.    Directions  to  the  joiner,  206.     Painting  hives, 
208. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

BEE-HOUSES. 

Shape,  etc.,  211.  Roof,  how  painted,  etc.,  212,  Size,  circumfer- 
ence, etc.,  212.  Height  of  hives,  floor-board,  etc.,  213.  Hives  repre- 
sented in  cut,  open  bee-houses  preferable,  etc.,  214.  The  heat  of  the 
sun  disadvantageous  in  winter,  216.  Hives  to  be  brought  within  the 
rays  of  the  sun  at  certain  seasons,  etc.,  219.  Division  boards  necessary 
between  hives,  etc.,  220.  Cost  of  building,  220.  Floor  not  necessary, 
221.     Brick  bee-houses,  221. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

BEE-STANDS,  ETC. 

•     CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  APIARY. 

South-east  the  best  point  to  front,  228.-  Morning  sun  necessary,  229. 
Offensive  smells  detrimental,  229.  The  shade  of  large  trees  not  bene- 
ficial, etc.,  230.  Danger  of  hives  blowing  over,  231.  Surrounding 
protection  necessary,  232.  Rivers  and  lakes  detrimental,  234.  How 
situated  in  regard  to  the  dwelling,  234.  No  walls  or  buildings  to  im- 
pede the  flight  of  bees,  235.  Valleys  most  suitable  for  apiaries,  235. 
Weeds  around  hives  to  be  extirpated,  236.  Apiaries  in  the  rooms  of 
dwellings,  238.     Bees  thrive  in  large  towns,  etc.,  239. 

CHAPTER  XVn. 

PASTURAGE. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

HONEY  DEW. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

BEE-DRESS,  ETC. 
Bee  stings,  how  cured,  etc.,  25V. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

SWARMING,  ETC. 

Hiving,  204.  Hiver,  267.  Clustering  on  the  outside  of  the  hive, 
268.  Rmging  of  bells  and  other  noises  useless,  26S.  Swarming  pre- 
vented by  extra  room, 269.  Strong  families  alwavs  recommended,  270. 
Different  swarms  apt  to  cluster  together,  272.    time  that  swarms  re- 


INDEX.  349 

main  clustered,  273.  The  queen  generally  alights  first,  276.  Neces- 
sity of  preparations  for  hiving,  etc.,  27G.  Symptoms  of  swarming,  278. 
Season  of  swarming,  2S0.  Swarms  consist  of  bees  of  all  ages,  283. 
Swarms  issuing  have  no  habitation  selected,  284.  Bees  communicate 
on  the  wing,  2S5.  Proper  mode  of  separating  swarms,  2S6.  Union  of 
swarms,  2SS.  Bees  liable  to  cluster  on  the  apiarian,  2S9.  Sambo's 
first  trial  at  hiving,  290.  Grape  vines  suitable  to  cluster  on,  artificial 
clustering  bushes,  etc.,  292.  Appearances  at  the  moment  of  issuing, 
293.     Time  of  day  to  expect  swarms  to  sally  forth,  293. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

ARTIFICIAL  SWARMS. 

Time  of  year  to  make  artificial  swarms,  298.  Artificial  swarms 
made  whoUy  by  driving  out,  298.  Directions  for  driving  and  dislodg- 
ing bees,  299.  How  to  cut  out  brood-combs,  300.  Artificial  swarms 
formed  by  division,  302.     Artificial  swarms  may  be  transposed,  303. 

CHAPTER  XXn. 

CHANGING  FAMILIES  FROM  OLD  TO  NEW  HIVES. 
Uniting  stocks,  309. 

CHAPTER  XXin. 

THE  SEASONS. 

Fall  management,  310.  Feeding  bees,  311.  Winter  management, 
314.  Spring  management,  316.  Summer  management,  317.  The 
bee-moth,  how  eradicated,  317.  Indications  of  the  moth,  best  course 
to  pursue,  320.    Populous  families  not  liable  to  be  undermined,  321 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

PILLAGE  OF  BEES. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

GUIDE  PLATE,  ETC. 
Distancea  and  thickness  of  combs,  325. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Ventilation  of  hives,  326.  Purchase  of  bees,  327.  Transportation 
of  bees,  327.  Combs  liable  to  melt  down,  328.  Disabled  bees,  329. 
Diseases  of  bees,  329.  Architecture  of  bees,  330.  Instinct  of  bees,  335. 
Longevity  of  Bees,  337.  Anger  of  Bees,  338.  Language  of  bees,  338. 
Bees-wax,  how  made,  341. 

APPENDIX. 

Miner's  improved  equilateral  hive,  342.    Pedestal  for  do.  344. 


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.50 
.75 


C.  M.  Saxton's  Catalogue  0/  Books. 


Youatt  on  the  Horse.    .  .  §1.75 

Miles'  Horse's  Foot,  and  How  to 

Keep  it  Sound 25 

Hinds'  Farrier  and  Stud  Book,  .  1.00 
Mason's  Farrier,  ....  1.25 
Stewart's  Stable  Kconomy,  1.00 

Clater's   F.very   Man  His   Own 

Farrier, 50 

Stable  Talk  and  Table  Talk,      .    1.00 
Vduatt'n  Stock  Raiser's  Manual,    2.50 
Clater  and  Vouatt's  Cattle  Doc- 
tor  50 

Mills'  Sportman's  Library,  .        .     1.00 
Skinner's  Dog  and  Sportsman,    .       .75 
Hawker  and  Porter  on  Shooting,    2.75 
Frank  Forristcr's   Field  Sports,    4.00 
Vouatt  on  the  Dog,      .        .        .     1.50 
Youatt  on  the  Pig,        .        .        .      .65 

Knowlsou's  Cow  Doctor,  .      .25 

Guenon'8    Treatise    on    Milch 

Cows,      .....       .38 

llandall's  Sheep   Husbandry,     .     1.00 
Murrcl's  American  Shepherd,     .     1.00 
Canfield    on    the    Management 

and  Breed  of  Sheep,     .         .1.00 
Blacklock's  Treatise  on  Sheep,  .       .50 
Bement's  American  Poulterer's 

Companion,    .        .        .         .1.00 

Cock's  American  Poultry  Book,      .38 
Boswcll's  Poultry  Yard,       .        .       ..50 

Miner's  Bee  Keeper's  Manual.  .  1.00 
■Weeks'  Treatise  on  the  Honey 

Bee 50 

Bevan  on  the  Bee,  .  .  .  .38 
Townley  on  the  Bee,  .  .  .  .50 
Marshall's  Farmer's  and  Immi- 

grant's  Hand  Book,  .  .1.00 
Stephen's  Book  of  the  Farm,  2 

vols,  octavo,  ....    4.00 
Klls  worth's     Improvements    in 
Arts.  Manufactures,  Stc,  in 

the  United  States 25 

Bigelou's  Plants  of  Boston  and 

'Vicinity,          ....     1.50 
Gardiner's  Farmer's  Dictionary,     1.50 
Bement's    Journal  of   Agricul- 
ture.       .  •      .         .         .         .     2.50 
Colmans  Ci.ntineiital   Agricul- 
ture  1.25 

Colman's     European     Agricul- 
tural Tour.      ....    6.00 
Fessenden's      New      American 

Gardener, 84 

Mahon's   American  Gardener's 

Calendar,  ....  3.50 
Bridgman's   Voung   Gardener's 

'  Aasistant,        .  .         .     1.75 

Johnson's  Dictionary  of  Modern 

Ciaidening,  ....  2.25 
Cobbct's  American  Gardener,  .  .38 
Bridgman's  Kitchen  Gardener's 

Instructor, 60 

Buist'.s    Family    Kitchen     Gar- 
dener,    .  ' 76 

Thaer's  Agriculture,  .         .  1.75 
Sraee  ou  ihe  Potato  Plant,  .         .      .72 
Gilpin's  Laudscape  (gardening,  .    3.50 
Downing's  Landscape  Garden- 
ing,          3.60 

Downing's     Cottage    Residen- 
ces,   2.00 

Lang's  Highland  Cottages,  .  1.60 


Cottage  and  Villa  Architecture, 

by  Walter  and  Smith,  4  voIs.^lO.OO 
F.lliot's  Cottages  &  Cottage  Life,    2.50 
The  American  Architect,  com- 
prising Original  Designs  of 
Country    Residences,    4to., 

1st  series 3.50 

2d  series,   ....    3.60 

Peters'    Agricultural    Account 

Book, I.OO3. 

The  Canary-Bird  Farrier,  .         .      .19'* 
Bees,    Pigeons,     Rabbits,     and 

Canary  Birds,  .  .  .  .38 
The  Bird  Keeper's  Manual,  .  ..50 
The  Birds  of  Long  Island,  .  .  1.00 
Gunn's  Domestic  Medicine,  or 
Poor  Man's  Friend.  This 
Book  points  cut  in  plain  lan- 
guage, free  from  Doctor's 
Terms,  the  Diseases  of  Men. 
AV'omen.  and  Children,  and 
the  Latest  and  most  Approv- 
ed Means  used  in  their 
Cure,  and  is  intended  ex- 
pressly for  the  Benefit  of 
Families.  It  also  Contains 
a  Description  of  the  Medi- 
cinal Roots  and  Herbs  in 
the  United  States.  By  John 
C.  Gunn,  M.  D..  1  vol.  6vo.,  3.00 
The  Use  of  Brandy  and  Salt,  as 
a  Remedy  for  Variou.s  Inter- 
nal as  well  as  External  Dis- 
eases, Inflammation,  and  Lo- 
cal Injuries,  containing  Am- 
ple Directions  for  Making 
and  Applying  it.  By  Rev.  b. 

Fenton, 12>^ 

Miss  Beecher's  Domestic   Eco- 
nomy,       76 

R.eceipt  Book,    .        .        .      .75 

Miss  Leslie's  Complete  Cookery,     1.20 

House  Book,       .         .         .     1.20 

Ladies'  Receipt  Book,      .     1.20 

ludian-Meal  Book,    .        .       .25 

Seventy-Five  Receipts,   .      .30 

Mrs.  Rundle  s  Domestic  Cook- 
ery, .....      .50 

Mrs.  Child's  Frugal  Housewife,      .40 
The  Cook's  own  Book,         .         .     l.OO 
The   American    Housewife  and 

Kitchen  Diicctory,        .         .      .18^ 
The  American  System  of  Cook- 
ery,        .....      .7-'> 

Domos'tic  Cotdiery,       .        .        .      .50 

The  Practical  Receipt  Book,     .      .63 
Mits    Acton's    New    Work    on 

Cookery,  .        .        .1.00 

Mrs.  Abeel's  Skillful  Housewife,     .26 
Mrs.  Cornelius'   Young   House- 

keejiCr's  Fiieud 50 

Alcotfs  Voung  Housekeep'T,     .     1.00 
The  l'',conomical  llor.sekeeper,  .      .75 
Browne's  Memoiron  Indian  Corn,     .26 
Pedders    Farmer's  Land   Mea- 
surer, show  iiig  at  one  View 
the  Contents  of  any   Piece 
of   Land  from    Dimensions 
taken  in  Yards,  with  a  Set  of 
Useful  Agricultural  Tables,       .50 
Webster's  KncyclopsEdia  of  Do- 
mestic Economy,  .        .  3.50 


THE  AMERICAN  BEE-KEEPER'S  MANUAL, 

BY    T.    B.    MINER. 

350  pp.  12mo.     35  Eagratjngs.     Price  $1. 

PUBLISHED  BY  C.  M.  SAXTON,  121  FULTON  ST.,  N.  Y. 

OPINIONS  OF  THE  PRESS. 

"  The  most  complete  work  on  the  Bee  and  Bee-keeping  we  have  yet  seen."— 
N.  Y.  Tribune. 
"  Mr.  Miner  has  handled  this  subject  in  a  masterly  manner." — N.  V.  True  Suju 

"He  has  written  a  work  of  the  most  fascinating  interest." — N.  Y.  Sutiday  Dis- 
patch. 

"  It  will  interest  the  general  reader.  It  is  indeed  a  charming  volume. — Com 
mercial  Advertiser. 

"  This  is  a  truly  valuable  work,  and  very  interesting." — Morning  Star. 

"It  is  decidedly  the  best  work  we  have  ever  seen." — Boston  Daily  Mail. 

■•'Mr.  Miner  has  performed  his  task  with  signal  abilitj-."— iScierit(/ic  American. 

"  It  does  high  credit  to  the  observation  and  intelligence  of  the  author." — Chris- 
tian Intelligencer. 

'•  This  is  the  most  comprehensive  and  valuable  work  on  the  Honey-bee  that 
has  ever  come  under  our  notice." — Journal  of  Commerce. 

"  To  appreciate  the  value  of  the  honey-bee  one  must  get  this  book  and  read  it 
attentively." — Noah's  Messenger. 

'■  We  like  it  for  its  independent  tone,  and  the  amount  of  practical  information 
that  it  contains." — Literary  JVorld. 

"  We  have  been  greatly  edified  and  entertained  by  this  book,  from  which  the 
reader  will  collect  a  great  deal  of  excellent  information, —  The  Independent. 

'■  This  JB  probably  the  most  complete  manual  of  the  kind  ever  published.  It  will 
richly  repay  the  general  reader,  too,  by  the  variety  of  interesting  facts  it  con- 
tains'." — Boston  Traveller. 

"  It  is  a  most  excellent  and  useful  treatise,  and  happily  supplies  a  vacuum 
that  had  long  existed." — Boston  Times. 

"  This  volume  has  all  the  charm  of  a  romance  and  admirably  displays  the 
habits  of  this  insect." — O^gan. 

"  This  volume  is  what  it  pretends  to  be,  (more  than  can  be  said  of  many  wo  rks) 
and  all  who  want  a  full  and  thorough  history  of  the  nature  and  management  of 
of  the  bee  should  have  it  in  their  possession." — Scientific  Jlmerican. 

'■  It  is  neatly  printed,  well  illustrated  and  clearly  written  and  contains  a  great 
deal  of  practical  information." —  Mirror. 

'•  This  work  probably  contains  better  instructions  in  regard  to  bees  than  any 
which  have  ever  appeared." — Sun. 

'•  The  practical  directions  are  the  result  of  evident  experience,  and  being 
plainly  and  concisely  stated,  are  excellent,  It  is  so  much  better  than  can  be 
obtained  elsewhere  that  we  commend  it  to  favor." — iV.  Y.  Ecangelist. 

'•  It  is  an  excellent  book  and  the  best  published  on  the  subject." — Boston  Oliv» 
Branch. 

C.  M.  SAXTON,  ;^.l  FULTON  STREET, 


THE    AMERICAN    FARM    BOOK: 

OH, 

Compend  of  American  Agriculture, 

Containing  a  concise  and  plainly  written  Exposition  of  Duties  pertaining  to  the 
Cultivation  of  the  Earth,  the  Management  of  the  Farm,  &c.,  &;c.,  on  prac- 
tical scientihc  piinciples. 

3Y  R.  L.  ALLEN. 

The  oheapest  and  most  valuable  book  for  a  farmer  ever  printed  :  being  a  com- 
plete Guide,  both  practical  and  scientific,  for  the 

MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  FARM. 

Besides  the  varied  practical  knowledge  which  this  book  imparts,  and  which  is 
indispensable  to  the  proper  management  of  every  department  of  agriculture,  it 
gives  the  elements  of  other  information  highly  necessary  to  a  successful  farmer, 
as  History,  Geology,  Chemistry,  Botany,  Anatomy,  Physiology,  and  Moclianics. 
These  branches  ol  Ivnowiedge  are  given  as  applicable  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  when  properly  understood  will  essentially  aid  and  assist  tlie  fdrnier.  In  fact, 
a  knowledge  of  these  sciences  is  a  sure  key  to  wealth  for  any  agriculturist.  It 
gives  tl»e  mode  of  preparation,  and  the  effects  of  all  kinds  of  manures  ;  the 
origin,  texture,  divisions,  and  description  of  every  variety  of  soils  ;  the  economy 
of  sowing,  reaping,  and  mowing,  irrigation  and  draining  ;  cultivation  of  the 
grasses,  clovers,  grains,  and  roots  ;  Southern  and  miscellaneous  products,  as  cot- 
ton, hemp,  flax,  the  sugar  cane,  rice,  tobacco,  hops,  madder,  woad,  Stc.  ;  the 
rearing  of  fruit — apples,  peaches,  pears,  plums,  grapes,  &c.  ;  farm  buildings, 
hedges,  Stc.  ;  with  the  best  methods  of  planting,  cultivating,  and  preparaiion 
for  market.     Illustrated  by  100  engravings. 

The  reader  can  form  some  idea  of  the  above  work,  from  the  fact  that  it  treats 
of  800  different  subjects  important  to  a  farmer.  It  contains  354  pages,  and  is 
beautifully  bound  in  cloth,  gilt,  suitable  for  a  library.  Price  only  One  Dollar. 
Notices  of  the  Press. 
The  author  has  been  one  of  the  most  able  contributors  to  the  agricultural  press 
for  the  last  ten  years  ;  aside  from  this  he  is  a  practical  farmer  and  stock-breeder, 
anil  consequently  knows  from  his  own  experience  what  he  is  writing  about.  ■ 
Commercial  Advertiser. 

Tliis  book  is  by  a  gentleman  of  knovm  experience ;  the  work  is  exceedingly 
'iheap,  and  the  farmer  will  find  it  a  valuable  book  of  reference. — N.  Y.  Express. 

It  is  in  fact  a  brief  encyclopedia  on  tlie  subjects  treated,  and  tiie  farmer  will 
fiad  appropriate  information  on  almost  any  subject  coming  witliin  his  reach. — 
AVi!)  York  Observer. 

Here  is  a  book  for  the  million,  precisely  what  its  title  indicates.  Compassed 
within  its  pages,  the  reader  will  find  the  subject  of  soils,  manures,  crops,  and 
animals,  treated  in  a  style  easily  comprehended. — Spirit  of  the  Times. 

This  work  is  what  might  be  expected  from  one  so  well  qualified  focthe  under- 
taking.— Boston  Cultivator.  « 

\Ve  are  glad  to  meet  a  publication  which  can  interest,  as  well  as  improve  the 
condition  of  the  human  race.  We  commend  the  work  to  every  American  farmer. 
—  (.'hristian  Intelligencer. 

Why  shall  not  every  good  farmer  economize  his  muscles  by  storing  his  mind  ? 
We  hope  this  book  will  find  its  way  into  many  family  and  school-libraries. — Nets 
York  Tribune. 
it  ought  to  be  found  in  every  farmer's  library.^Jerseyman. 
It  is  really  a  great  satisfaction  to  get  hold  of  an  American  treatise  on  Agricul- 
luro,  that  has  a  plain,  practical,  common  sense  character  of  its  own.  The  author 
of  ihis  work  is  already  known  to  the  agricultural  public  as  a  thorough  practical 
faiMier  and  stock-breeder.  That  he  well  knows  what  he  is  about  on  a  farm,  these 
p.iges  abundanty  show.  No  mere  book-maker  could  have  wntlen  such  a  book  ; 
and  we  may  add,  also,  that  no  mere  practical  farmer  could  have  written  it.  A 
"good  practical  work"  can  only  be  written  by  a  man  wlio  lias  both  thought  and 
acted  well.  What  distinguishes  this  volume,  is  its  conciseness,  its  clearness,  and 
its  perspicuous  treatment  of  the  subject  in  hand.  We  think,  therefore,  that  Mr. 
Allen's  volume,  the  basis  of  which  is  good  practical  farming,  as  practised  by  the 
best  cultivators  in  llie  United  States,  with  an  inteUigent  reference  to  those  princi- 
ples of  science  which  lie  at  the  root  of  all  successful  practice,  is  likely  to  be  of  as 
much  or  more  real  service  to  us,  than  any  work  on  agriculture  vet  issuf^d  from 
the  press,  and  we  gladly  commend  it  lo  the  perusal  of  every  one  o/  cur  readers 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  land.— .1.  J.  Downing's  Horticulturist 


THE 

AMERICAN    ARCHITECT; 

PUBLISHED  MONTHLY  AT  f  3  PER  ANNUM, 
(Single  Numbers,  25  Cents,) 


The  object  of  this  publication  is  to  introduce  ORIGINAL  DESIGNS  of  Country 
Seats  adapted  to  the  varied  taste  and  circumstances  of  an  American  population  : 
from  the  elegant  Villa  to  the  simple  Cottage  and  plain  Farm-House  ;  from 
Planters'  Mansions  to  Village  Domicils.  In  a  word,  every  variety  of  Hural 
Residences  will  be  embraced,  in  order  to  meet  the  views  of  every  person  desiring 
a  Country  House.  In  respect  to  style,  cost,  arrangement,  finish,  &c.,  utility 
will  never  be  sacrificed ;  economy  in  the  outlay,  with  an  appropriate  style,  wiU 
always  be  kept  in  view.  The  requisite  details,  specifications,  plans,  and  direC' 
tions,  with  a  careful  and  reliable  estimate  of  the  cost,  will  accompany  each  design. 
These  are  essential  features  of  a  Practical  Work,  and  no  labor  will  be  spared  in 
their  preparation. 

Of  the  diversity  of  human  dwellings,  whether  marked  by  elegance,  convenience, 
or  utility,  or  by  the  want  of  them,  none  can  compare  in  national  importance  and 
philosophical  interest  with  the  Farm-Housc — the  Homestead  of  our  species. 

A  triple  value  attaches  to  that  class  of  men  which  feeds  all  otliers.  With  pri- 
meval farmers,  man's  social  faculties  were  first  vinfolded.  With  them  society 
began  :  and  among  whatever  people  its  shaft  has  become  polished  and  its  capital 
enriched,  it  still  rests  on  the  cultivators  of  the  soil.  So,  of  their  profession,  agri- 
culture is  the  great  parent  of  the  arts,  while  its  prepared  products  will  forever 
be  the  most  essential  of  all  manufactures.  Then  it  was  in  their  dwellings  that 
Architecture  itself  had  its  birth  ;  it  was  they  who  first  abandoned  the  tent  with 
pastoral  life,  and  began  to  devise  and  construct  fixed  and  permanent  abodes. 

The  estimates  we  give  are  based  on  New  York  prices  ;  including  the  best  ma- 
terials, workmanship,  and  finish.  There  is  no  doubt  that  in  many  parts  of  the 
country,  they  may  be  materially  diminished  in  every  one  of  these  respects— even 
to  the  extent  of  one-half. 

The  selection  of  designs  by  those  about  to  build  Country  Residences  is  com 
monly  attended  with  embarrassment  and  always  with  expense.  When  furnished 
by  professional  jnen,  from  general  ideas  communicated  by  proprietors,  they  are 
seldom  satisfactory.  The  American  Architect ,hy  inrmshin^  a  collection  of  designs 
adapted  to  all  tastes  and  means,  will  remove  every  difficulty  in  the  choice,  and 
i;ave  money  expended  on  Plans  of  no  use.  It  will  furnish  twelve  Elevations, 
Plans,  and  Specifications  in  each  year,  at  a  price  not  exceeding  one-seventh  of 
the  usual  charge  for  one. 

Every  handsome  residence  adds  value  to  the  grounds  attached  to  it ;  hence  the 
importance  of  having  such,  by  those  who  invest  capital  in  this  species  of  property. 

With  regard  to  utility — the  proper  distribution  of  the  apartments  and  their 
adaptation  to  the  purposes  intended  is  the  most  important  point  to  be  attended 
to,  and  they  are  governed  by  the  Plans. 

From  among  the  great  number  of  notices,  we  select  the  following : — 

"  The  price  is  only  25  cents  for  each  number,  and  it  is  surely  next  to  impossible 
but  that  such  a  periodical  will  obtain  a  wide  circulation." — New  York  Tribune. 

"  This  work  promises  to  supply  a  want  which  has  long  existed,  and  to  be  ot 
essential  value." — Salem  Register. 

"  This  work  cannot  fail  to  be  useful  and  popular." — Boston  Bee. 

"  This  is  a  good  and  beautiful  work,  and  well  adapted  to  effect  a  much  desired 
reform  in  American  Architecture." — Boston  Traveller. 

Thi  Cost  of  building  from  the  Plans  given,  will  be  from  $600  to  $5,000,  with 
comp  5te  Specifications  from  a  first-rate  Mason  and  Carpenter,  and  the  prices 
given  'an  be  depended  upon. 


GUNN'S  DOMESTIC  MEDICINE, 

OR  POOR  MAN'S  FRIEND  :   IN  THE  HOURS  OF  AFFLIOTION,  PAIN 

AND  SICKNESS,  A  SAFE  AND  RELIABLE  GUIDE. 

Raymond's  copy,  price  three  dollarr 

This  Book  points  out  in  plain  language,  free  from  doctors'  terms,  the  Diseases 
of  Men,  Women,  and  Children,  and  the  latest  and  most  improved  means  used  in 
their  cure ;  and  is  intended  expressly  for  the  benefit  of  families.  It  also  contains 
descriptions  of  the  Medical  Hoots  and  Herbs  of  the  United  States,  and  how 
they  are  to  be  used  in  the  cure  of  diseases.  It  is  arranged  on  a  new  and  simple 
plan,  by  which  the  practice  of  Medicine  is  reduced  to  principles  of  common 
sense. 

This  invaluable  book  has  passed  through  many  editions ;  it  has  now  been  re- 
vised and  improved  in  every  respect,  and  enlarged  to  nearly  double  its  former 
size  ;  and  contains  nine  hundred  octavo  pages.  , 

It  does  not  propose  to  dispense  with  physicians  in  severe  cases.  But  it  does 
propose  to  save  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  annually,  by  putting  the  means 
of  cure  into  every  man's  hands,  and  of  saving  many  valuable  lives  (which  is  of 
far  more  importance)  by  instructing  individuals  how  to  check  disease  in  its  begin- 
nings, before  it  has  acquired  too  much  strength  to  resist  and  overcome. 

Opinions  of  the  Press. 

"  We  seldom  take  up  a  book  of  this  class  with  any  favorable  impressions  ;  f(  r 
we  fear  quackery  and  pretension  have  been  at  work  for  the  '  poor  man  ;'  but  in 
this  work  all  our  prejudices  were  conquered.  Professional  men  as  well  as  others, 
we  see  cheerfully  recommend  this  book;  which  has,  in  lis  ample  pages,  much  of 
the  necessary  instruction  to  ward  oflor  to  cure  disease." — New  York  Express. 

"  It  is  written  in  an  easy,  plain,  and  familiar  style,  and  points  out  the  diseases 
of  men,  women,  and  children,  and  the  latest  and  most  approved  means  used  in 
their  cure.  The  language  and  arrangement  are  so  simplified  as  to  bring  it  within 
the  capacity  of  those  who  possess  a  very  limited  education.  The  object  and  de- 
sign of  the  author  seems  to  be  to  remove  all  that  technical  phraseology  which  is 
used  in  medical  works  generally,  and  thus  simplify  the  practice  of  that  science 
which  the  head  of  every  family  should  be  acquainted  with.  It  is  generally  recom- 
mended to  our  professional  readers  as  a  guide  in  cases  where  it  is  not  deemed 
necessary  te  have  the  services  of  regularly  educated  practitioners.  This  book 
should  find  a  place  in  every  family." — Boston  Mail. 

"  This  is  a  work  of  Family  Medicine  on  the  plan  of  Dr.  Ewell.  It  is  the  most 
Dlain-written,  untechnical  book  of  tlie  kind  we  have  met  with ;  a  decided  improve- 
ment on  both  Buchan  and  Ewell.  It  is  printed  in  a  very  superior  style,  revised 
from  the  first  edition,  and  containing  a  variety  of  useful  information  not  hitherto 
laid  before  the  vulgar  eye.  It  treats  of  the  passions.  It  has  also  a  catalogue  of 
medicines,  with  their  properties  and  doses,  and  the  diseases  and  manner  in  which 
they  are  treated  ;  comprising  a  synoptical  Materia  Medica,  exceedingly  useful  in 
families,  and  more  particularly  to  captains  of  vessels  and  planters,  who  cannot 
conveniently  procure  medical  advice.  It  is  an  excellent  book."— JVeui  Orleans 
True  American. 

"  If  we  judge  of  the  merits  of  the  book  by  the  immense  number  of  copies  already 
Bold,  and  the  very  flattering  testimony  of  medical  men  of  the  first  standing,  (and 
among  the  number,  several  of  the  most  distinguished  members  of  the  faculty  in 
our  city,)  it  is  a  valuable  compendium  of  the  modem  practice  of  physic,  and  must 
prove  a  valuable  assistant  to  families,  particularly  in  sudden  emergencies,  and  in 
all  situations  where  regular  professional  attendance  caimot  be  c'ommand^d." — 
Louisville  Journal. 

"  The  great  advantage  it  possesses  over  all  other  books  of  the  kind  is,  that  the 
author  has  avoided  all  Latin  terms ;  this  is  what  has  brought  Dr.  Gunn's  work 
Into  such  extensive  family  use." — New  Orleans  Picayune. 

"  As  a  medical  Vade  Mecum,  it  has  for  years  stood  high  ;  and  now,  since  its  re- 
vision, (Uaymand's  copy,)  will  take  the  lead  of  all  similar  works."— Jfoiiie  Daily 
Advertiser. 

"  Its  extensive  sale  has  established  its  worth,  and  stamped  it  as  a  standard  and 
useful  book."— Kentucky  Gazette. 

03"  On  the  receipt  of  Three  Dollars,  Dr.  Giinn's  book  wU]  be  sent,  free  of 
fottage,  to  any  part  of  the  United  States. 

All  letters  must  be  addiessed,  (post-paid,)  to  C.  M.  SAXT0N,121  Fdlton  St., 
New  York. 

*'  Raymond's  Copy^"  is  the  only  complete  edition,  and  is  so  marked  on  the  back 


NEW-YORR  AGRiCULTlRAL  WAREHOUSE 

AND   SEED   STORE. 


A.  B.  ALLEN  &  CO., 

189  &  191  WATER  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


Faemees,  rlanters,  and  Gardeners  -will  find  in  our  Warehouse,  the  largest  and 
most  complete  assortment  of  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Imjilem-ents.  Field 
and  Garden  Seeds.  Fertilizers,  Fruit  and  Ornamental  Trees.  Stc,  &.C.,  in  New 
York.  A  few  of  the  articles  we  enumerate  below.  Our  implements  are  mostly 
made  up  from  new  and  highly-improved  patterns,  and  are  warranted  to  le  of 
the  best  materials,  put  together  m  the  strongest  manner,  and  of  superior  finish. 
Plows    -Of  these  we  have  upwards  of  FIFTY  difl'erent  kinds,  among  whicli 

are   Cotton,  Rice,  and  Sugar  Plows,  at S'J  to  4.50 

Two  and  Four 
Horse  Plows,  of  dif- 
ferent sizes,  and  for 
all  kinds  of  soils — 
stony,  sandy,  loam, 
or  clay  ;  also  for 
stubble  and  sward 
laud.  Some  of  these 
have  patent  clevies 
attached  to  them, 
thus  enabling  the 
ofl-horse.  in  plowingf 
a   wet    meadow,    to 


Subsoil    Plow,  with  Wheel,  DiAL-CLtvis,  and  Draft-Rod. 
Wttlk  on  the  solid  ground,  instead  of  a  miry,  Iresh-plowed  furrow.    Others  are 


New   York  Agricultural   Warehouse. 


adapted  to  trench-plowing,  enabling  the  fanner  to  turn  up  virgin  earth  in  a  deep 
soil.     These  plows  are  strong  enough  to  grub  up  roots,  heavy  hogs,  &c.     They 

Lkewise  answer  for  .^hallow  ditching .$5  to  S20 

One  Horse  Plows  for  the  North,  with  single  and  Double  Mold-Boards.  The 
last  are  admirable  to  work  between  the  rows  of  root  crops  and  corn,  when  not 
over  3>i  feet  apart,  as  they  turn  the  furrow  both  ways,  thus  doing  double  the 
work  M  a  single  mold-board  Ig3  to$5 


CULTITATOa    WITH     AVhELL. 


Sef.d  Sower. 
should  be  without  them 

Subsoil  Plows  for 
deep  plowing  §5.50 
to  16.00. 

Double  Mold-Board 
or  Fluke  Plows  for 
furrowing  to  plant, 
cultivate  anl  ditch  ; 
and  the  largest  made 
expressly  for  plant 
ing  the  sugar  cane, 
S3. .TO  to  P  00. 

Siilr-lUU  Shifting 
Molil- Hoard  or  Swiv- 
el I'ii'Wi^  for  turning 
the  furrow  in  either 
direction,  §5.00  to 
16.00. 

Paring-  Plows,  for 
shaving  off  the  turf 
picparr.tory  to  burn- 
ing S  15.00. 

Harrows. — .4  com- 
plete assortment  of 
Hquare.  triangle,  and 
double  triangle  fold- 
ing, harrows,  with 
wrought  iron  or 
tteel  pointed  teeth. 
Je  lo  I6.IW 


Some  of  these  plows  are  made 
expres.sly  for  light  sandy  soils, 
others  for  a  loam,  or  stiff  clay, 
which  thiy  work  in  the  best 
manner.  Being  made  by  patent 
machinery,  they  are  superior  to 
anything  of  the  kind  ever  before 
sold  in  this  markit. 

Rice  Trenching  Plow. — This  does 
the  same  work  as  the  hands  per- 
form on  a  rice  plantation  with 
trenching  hoes,  equally  well,  and 
with  much  greater  rapidity  than  a 
negro  can  work.  No  Planter 
S6  to  6.50 


Shuabf  H/vn8ow. 


New  York  Agricultural  Warehouse. 


straw-Cutters. — Common  hand 3.00  to    8.00 

"  Cylindrical,  with  spi- 

ral    and      straight 

blades 8.00  to  30.00 

Corn-stalk    Cutters. — Marshall's,    Sin- 
clair's,   Thorn's,    and 

others, 12.00  to  45.00 

Cotton- Gins,  of  various  patterns, 25.00  to  150,00 

Ox,  Road,  or  Dirt  Scrapers, 4.50  to  5.00 

Self-acting   Cheese  Press — a  neat   and 
very      superior     and 

simple  article, 6.60 

Seed  Soweris,  various  patterns S.OO  to  1.5.00 

Corn-Planters,  will  plant  10  acres  per 

day,  by  one   man, 16.00 

Horticultural  Tool  Chests  complete 18.  o" 

Wheelbarrows  for  Gardens 4.50  to  S.o" 

•'  Canal,    Dirt,  or   Tray,  2.25  to  3.d'> 

Tree  or  Bush  Pullers,  $4.00  to  6.00  :  Garden  Svrin- 
ges.  1.00  to  5.50  ;  Grain  Cradles,  3.U0  to  5.50  ;  Sausage 
Stufters,  4. .50  to  5.00  :  Lactometers.  2.50  to  5.00  ;  Bee- 
hives, 3.50  to  6.50  ;  Ox-Yokes  and  Bows,  2.50  to5.00  ; 
Manure-Forks,  63  cts.  to  4.00  ;  Hav  ditto,  50  cts.  to  1  00; 
* tiaiu  and   Grass  Scythes,  75  cents  to  1.00  ;  Swingle 
Trees.  1.00  to   3.50  ;  Hay  and   Straw-Knives.  1.00   to 
-  00  ;  A.Kes— Collins',  Hunt's,  and   Simons",  handled, 
1.00.  to  1..50  ;  Grubbing  Hoes.  60  cents  to  1.00  :  Picks, 
l.:iO   to   2.00  ;    Trace    Chains,   75   cents  to  1.00  ;    O.v 
<  liams— American  9  to  Mji  cents   per  lb.  ;   Shovels 
Tiid  Spales   To  cents   to    1.50  ;  Tree  Sciapers.  31  to 
7j  centb     Schuffling  Hoes,  25  cents  to  1.00  ;  Churns, 
patterns,  2.00  to  4  00  ;  Grafting  tUii.'^cls  ami 
Saw,  handled,  2.00  ;  Hoes,  all 
patterns,   25   cents   to    1.00; 
Potato    Hooks,    iO   cents   to 
1.50  ;    Potato   Forks,   1.00   to 
2.00  ;  Garden  Reels.  75  cts.  , 
Sickles,  37  to  63  cents  ;  Grass 
Shears,   1.25  to    1..50  ;    Twig 
Cutters.    50  cents   to    2.00  ; 
\ine    Scissors.    63     cents.  ; 
Pruning  Shears,  2.00  :  Screw 
Wrenches,     1.50     to     3.00  ; 
Sheep   Shears,    75   cents    to 
1.25  ;    Strawberrv   Forks.  37 
cents  ;  Scythe  Rifles.  Rakes, 
various  patterns  and  various 
prices  ;    Peat   iinives,    1.50  ; 
Ox   .Muzzles,  31    to  50  cents 
]  or  pair  ;  Ox  Bows,  31  to  50 
cents  ;     Hatchets.   50  to  75 
c;:it-i  ;  Hoise  Brushes.  Ham- 
mers. Axe   Handles,    Grind- 
ff..):ie5,    Rollers,    Crank   and 
Shafts,    Flower     Gatiierers, 
I  !;\_'ls.  Fdging  Knives,  Cattle 
\  ic-ciiains,  Bull  Rings,  But- 
tor   Boxes.  Bush  Hooks,  Ca- 
I0i])ii;ar     Brushes,     Fleams, 
Scoops,      Ox      Balls,      Post 
Spoons.      Garden     Trowels. 
;!>pinning-wheel  Heads,  Well 
'Wheels,  Oven  Mouths,  Budding  Knives.  Pruning  ditto,  See,  Cattle  Ties,  &c. 
Castixgs  of  all  the  difl'erent  parts  of  Plows,  at  4  to  6  cents  per  lb. 
Gix  Segments  and  Heavy  Castings  of  all  descriptions  made  to  order. 
Barrow  Teeth  and  Iron  IVvrlc  of  dift'erent  kinds  made  to  order  in  the  cheapest 
best  manner. 

Stcam-Engines.  Si  gar-Boilers.  Sugar-Mills,  Kettles.  Cauldrons.  iS-c,  for  planta- 
tiou.s. 


New  York  Agricultural  Warehouse. 


Fire  Enginen.  Forcing  Pumpt  of 
I^arire  and  Small  Size,  Water  Ravis,  Src. 

Cast  Iron  Water  Pipe  from  1  to  1-2  in- 
clies  diameter,  both  sleeve  or  socket, 
and  flange,  3  to  4  cts.  per  lb. 

ff'ire-Clotk  and  Sieves. — Difl'erent 
kinds  and  sizes  kept  constantly  on 
hand. 

JVire  of  all  sizes  for  Fences. 

TVagims.  Carts,  both  Hand  and  Horse, 
and  Trucks  of  all  sizes. 

Leavensworth's  Patent  California  Gold 
IVashers,  the  best  ever  constructed, 
will  do  the  work  of  100  men.  and  go 
either  by  horse  or  hand  power,  $30 
to  §60. 

Gold  Digging  Implements  of  all  kinds, 
picks,    crow  bars.    hoes,     shovels.  &c. 

Gold  Tester.-;  Retorts.  Crucibles.  Fur- 
naces. &c.,  &c.,  of  all  kinds. 

Blasting  Tools.  Drills.  Chisels,  &c. 

I^ead  Pipe  of  various  sixes  and  thick- 
ness, at  <>  to  7  cts.  per  lb. 

heather,  India  Rubber  and  Gutta 
Pcrcha  Hose,  of  all  sizes. 

Corn  Shkller. 

Seeds  for  the  Field  and  Garden.— Such  as  improved  Winter  and  Spring  Wheat, 
Rye.  Barley,  Oats,  Corn,  Beans.  Peas.  Rutaliaga.  Turnip,  Cabbage.  Beet,  Carrot, 
Parsnip,  Clover,  and  Grass  Seeds,  improved  varieties  of  Potatoes,  &c.,  &c.,  &c. 
These  are  warranted  fresh  and  superior  of  their  kind. 

Fertilizers. — Peruvian  and  Patagonian  Guano.  Lime,  Plaster  of  Paris,  Bone  Dust, 

kc,  &.C.  

Fruit  and  Ornamen- 
tal Trees  and  Shrubs. 
— Orders  taken  for 
these,  and  executed 
from  a  choice  of  the 
best  Nurseries,  Gar- 
den.s,  and  Conserva- 
tories in  the  United 
States, 
Horses,  Cattle.  Sheep 
~      and      Swjnc— Orders 


.'lluiiaiillllllUilllillllllUlllliliUIIIIIIIUUillV  received  for  stock  of 
SAUsAfiE  Stiffeh.  all  kinds,  to  be  exe- 

cuted to  the  best  advantage,  and  shipped  in  the  most  careful  manner. 

Copper  .'Stills  Complete — Iron  Chests,  Brick  Machines, 
Bark  .Mills. 

Portable  Furnaces — Blacksmitlis'  Bellows.  Sledges, 
Hammers,  Tongs,  Sic. 

Whilnetfs  Celebrated  Duena  Vista  Rifles,  with  Molds, 
and  all  extra.s,  Percussion  Caps,  Stc,  &.c.,  &c. 

Post-hole  .Augers — Ornamental  Fountains,  Iron  Garden 
Chairs,  Garden  Kngines,  Morticing  Machines. 

Bullets  of  all  sizes,  and  Buck  Shot.  8  cts.  per  lb. 

Agricultural  Books. — .■V  varied  and  general  assort- 
ment of  these  for  sale. 

JVcifl  Impliineuts.  .Sec  /.-•,  ij'c- — The  subscribers  request 
samples  sent  to  them  of  any  new  or  improved  Imple- 
ments. Seeds.  &r.,  which,  if  found  valuable,  extra  pains 
will  be  taken  to  liring  them  before  the  public. 

Produce  on  Consign?iienl. — All  kinds  of  Produce  will 
be  received  for  sale  on  consignment. 

A  discount  will  be  made  from  the  above  prices  to  dealers. 

A  Catalogue  of  over  100  pages,  witli  numerous  en- 
gravings, containing  a  i)art  of  our  Implements,  with 
prices,  will  be  forwarded  by  mail,  if  requested  post 
jiaid, 

A.  B.  ALLKN,  &  Co., 
180  and  191  Water  street.  New  York. 


Pump 


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